‘No substitute for hard work’

Manasa Katonivere, a Year 11 student at Nabua Secondary School, yesterday sent out a clear message to his peers: there are no substitutes for hard work.

Earlier this year, Manasa faced difficulties enrolling in a secondary school in Suva.

Coming from a low-income family and with little sup-port from his peers at school, he struggled to find his place. To help support his education, his parents purchased a brush cutter for him to use as a source of income.

Through his tireless efforts and perseverance, a kind-hearted customer named Nirmal Singh Cheema be-came a crucial figure in Manasa’s journey. Manasa reflected on the challenges his parents faced: “Seeing my parents struggle from time to time, I knew I had to level up and become the best version of myself every day.

“When my parents bought the brush cutter, I spent my days roaming the neighbour-hood, cutting grass to earn a decent income,” Manasa said.

“But through these struggles, God provided me with a father figure like Mr Chee-ma. I am so thankful for his support in my education.”

At the prizegiving ceremony, Manasa was recognised for his participation in the AFL Under-17 tournaments in Australia earlier this year.

For Manasa, this award marked a significant step in his journey to becoming the best version of himself. Mr Cheema said his support was not about giving back, but about seeing the poten-tial in someone’s life.

“The message I want to share is that there are many young people like Manasa who need our support and encouragement. We must believe in our children,” Mr Cheema said.

“I firmly believe in the ad-age, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Let’s reach out to children who want to succeed but lack the financial means and resources to make it happen. And to schools, I urge you not to turn away any student, as each one has the potential to make a difference.”

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