Patricia rises above all to lead school

Still coming to terms with the loss of her father and living far away from her mother is not an obstacle for Patricia Mot­ufaga from achieving her dreams.

The newly-badged headgirl of Na­gigi Primary School outside Labasa Town said her humble upbringing and background attributed to her personality.

She just joined the school last year after leaving Shiri Guru Nanak Pri­mary School.

“I was surprised when the teach­ers selected me to be the headgirl since I joined the school last year,” the 13-year-old said.

“I was only ten when my father passed away.

Since the demise of her father, she said her mother struggled to raise her and her three siblings.

“It was not until the beginning of last year when my mother decided to leave me at my grandmother’s place at Matailabasa Village and left for Suva to support my other siblings.”

The decision to live away from her immediate family was the toughest choice.

“In life there are lot of choices and I never disobeyed my mother because I love her,” the youngest of four siblings said.

“Now that I am blessed with the honour of being the headgirl and I am more encouraged to face each day and pursue my dream to be­come a lawyer.

“I believe that if we be obedient to our parents’ God is going to bless us more.”

Nagigi Primary School headteach­er Sunil Dutt said the teachers had been monitoring Patricia’s behav­iour since last year and they found her to be a very disciplined.

Hence, he said they selected her as the headgirl.

Meanwhile, the newly-badged headboy Ayush Chandra of Ranib­ulu in Labasa said he expected this position as he was the deputy head­boy last year.

Aspiring to become a doctor, the 13-year-old said he will make that the 142 students follow rules and regulation of the schools.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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