Tora’s Journey to Success

Hard work and ambition spiralled Freddy Tora, 30, to achieve what he never dreamt of achieving in life.

From diving for mussels in the Ba River for family consumption to surviving the tough training of being a United States Navy sailor in uniform.

The Nailaga, Ba native, with maternal links to Visama, Nakelo, Tailevu, wanted many things after completing high school, but he was not successful because of financial constraints.

He was determined to overcome the difficulties to stand on his own feet.

On September 26, Mr Tora graduated as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (ABM), an officer dealing with aircraft-on-aircraft career.

He spent three months at the Navy boot camp programme, the U.S Naval Station at Great Lakes, North Chicago, Illinois.

He wanted to join the U.S Navy because he wanted to pursue a career in medicine in the long run.

“I was so blessed and grateful to the Almighty for His provision and giving us strength,” he said.

“It took three months of basic training to prepare someone to be a great leader and a better sailor. In my experience, the toughest part of training was mental preparation. It was simply knowing what you need to think, getting good at thinking about it and always training your mind to stay positive in different situations.”

He said some phases of training reminded him of home.

“Like for swimming test, it reminded me when we used to dive for mussels at the Ba River and swimming from one bank to the other. It helped me a lot in my training,” said Mr Tora.

He is the second youngest of four siblings of parents Maika Tora and Miriama Rokovui. He was raised in Ba and attended Ratu Rusiate Nabuta Memorial School (Years 1-8). He then joined Ba Methodist High School (Matavelo) for Years 9-13.

In 2014, he decided to repeat Year 13 Examination at Dilkusha Methodist High School to attain higher marks.

In 2016 he enrolled at the Fiji National University to study Bachelor of Human Resources Management (under the TAFE programme).

“Due to financial difficulties, I decided to hold my studies, since my mom was the only one to provide for the family.“I was self-employed for two years doing my own barber business, events planning and decoration and travelling from place to place.

In 2019 he completed his studies at the University of the South Pacific, but this time he moved to the U.S in 2022 leaving behind friends and families and starting a new life.

He stayed in Kansas City and attended Pratt Community College, managed with a certified nursing assistant licence, and worked for a year at the hospital. In 2023, he moved to California.

“The people who motivated me are my mother, family back at home, and those in the U.S, not forgetting the people I met along the way. They are the reason why I never give up.

“Later, I want to enrolled in a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing programme to take care of people because I love what I do,” he said.

He has moved to Florida, to his A-School (Aviation School) where he will wait for his next commands.

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj