Litia Bola Inspired By Late Mum's Teaching

Litia Bola wept as she imagined her mother waving from the crowd as she proudly donned the Police uniform at Nasese yesterday for her passing-out parade.

The former Adi Cakobau School student wished her mum was alive to witness her be­come a Police officer.

The 22-year-old said losing her mother in 2019 was one of the hardest times of her life.

She was awarded the Commandant’s Book Prize most progressive recruit.

“I couldn’t stop the tears as I marched with the other recruits. I was raised single hand­edly by my mother and how I wish she was here to see me make her proud,” Ms Bola said.

“Life has not been easy since losing her, but I am thankful to my mother’s sister and her husband who raised my sister and I when we lost her.

“I know how hard it is to be raised by a single mother and everything I have done in my life is to make her proud.

“My mother has taught me to be independ­ent and I thank her for teaching me that be­cause we did not know that she would be leav­ing us early.”

Ms Bola hails from Viseisei Village in Vuda, Ba with maternal links to Nadaro Village in Vugalei, Tailevu.

She is the first female Police officer in her family.

“I never saw myself as a Police officer, but I always had this urge of coming out of my comfort zone. The four months training was intensive, and I faced a lot of challenges since I am an indoor person,” Ms Bola said.

“The boys from my squad always motivated me to keep going when the outdoor training was hard. I was able to be one of those pass­ing-out today is because of the support from everyone.”

Feedback: wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj