For 27-year-old Reapi Tabuaniviti, the day she was stopped from sitting her Year 13 exams over unpaid school fees is a memory she will never forget - a moment when years of sacrifice, late-night studies and dreams of becoming a teacher seemed to vanish in an instant.
Born in Nabualau Village and hailing from Qoma in Tailevu, Reapi who was the Matua School Dux last year, grew up helping her parents work on the farm, planting cassava and dalo to sell at the market to cover basic living expenses and school fees.
Life in the village was hard.
While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, she says her parents, who did not have formal employment, relied on the land to provide for the family.
At just 13 years old, Reapi faced another major challenge when her father, the family’s only breadwinner, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Insert: I was shocked 14th Feb 26
Despite the fear, she remained determined to continue her education, motivated by her father’s encouragement to pursue her dreams.
Years of perseverance brought her to the doorstep of her first Year 13 exam.
But when she arrived at the exam hall, she was stopped — her family owed $190 in school fees, and she was not allowed to enter.
She says that all that happiness, from night till day, was gone.
Yet her story is ultimately one of resilience.
Despite facing heartbreak, financial hardship and personal loss, she continues to pursue her education, embodying the power of perseverance and highlighting the importance of support for students from rural communities.
Her journey is a timely reminder, as the new school year begins, that while obstacles may seem insurmountable, determination, hope and the support of family and community can help students overcome even the most daunting challenges.
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