Nayavaki First To Graduate In His Family, Sets Milestone Achievement
Every day when Sunuwale Nayavaki wakes up, he sees his parents get ready for another day of work in Nadi. His parents are market vendors and their struggle was always at the back his mind.
Saturday 01 October 2022 | 13:00
Sunuwale Nayavaki with his parents Ruci (left) and Kaminieli Waibote (right) during his Fiji National University (FNU) graduation on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Photo: Josefa Babitu
Every day when Sunuwale Nayavaki wakes up, he sees his parents get ready for another day of work in Nadi.
His parents are market vendors and their struggle was always at the back of his mind.
When he was given the opportunity to study at the Fiji National University (FNU) he took it with an aim to provide a better life for his parents.
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“My mom and dad are everything to me because they were always there for me when I needed them the most,” he said.
“I finally did it. I managed to survive studying remotely when COVID-19 struck. This degree is for them because they raised me to be the person that I am today.
“Words cannot describe how happy I am.”
His education was sponsored by the Fijian Government through the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme.
Mr Nayavaki is the first in his family to graduate from university, setting a milestone achievement for his family, especially his siblings.
His father, Kaminieli Waibote, said he was the proudest father.
“Today is a milestone achievement for all of us because he did what none of us was supposed to do – he got his paper,” he said.
He said he could not hold back his emotions.
“Because I’m the youngest in my family but my eldest child scored a big win for all of us with his paper.”
Mr Nayavaki found work before his graduation.
His advice to students is: “whatever you do, do not give up on your studies.”
Story By: josefa.babitu@fijisun.com.fj
