Student Almost Quit School, Now’s She Graduates as Dux
“Last year we were home for the past seven months and were on the verge of giving up. Then I thought if I give up now my parents will suffer in the future,” she said. “They are getting old. They have made a lot of sacrifices for me; at times they would go to bed without food.”
Sunday 13 March 2022 | 01:15
Seruwaia Rubuni was on the verge of quitting school, but thoughts about her parents suffering in the future changed her mind.
On Thursday, the 18-year-old Raviravi, Matuku native from Lau scooped the Dux Award during the Sabeto College Year 13 graduation.
She also topped five subjects - Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
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The youngest of two siblings attributed for her successful high school education journey to the support of caring parents.
“Last year we were home for the past seven months and were on the verge of giving up. Then I thought if I give up now my parents will suffer in the future,” she said. “They are getting old. They have made a lot of sacrifices for me; at times they would go to bed without food.”
She recalled last year, during her online classes, where her phone needed power and because they did not have electricity, she studied under candle light.
“I would go to my neighbour to charge my phone and miss some classes during the day. That did not hinder me in achieving my goal and I am most thankful and humbled,” she said.
She thanked her classmates and teachers for spending five years with her at the institution.
Her mother Nileshni Singh, 44, recalled that one day, Seruwaia revealed her exam dates, but opted not to sit for the exam since she was not prepared.
“I told her, the classroom is your gauge, no matter if you pass or fail that’s the national law, but do go and give in your best. I did not know that the result was going to be this pleasant one,” she said.
Rubini has pencilled her career to join the Cardiologist (MBBS) programme at the University of Fiji.
Edited by Jonathan Bryce
