It was a proud moment for 30-year-old Maika Malau, who travelled with his wife and uncle from Drawa Village in Wailevu West, Cakaudrove, to attend his graduation ceremony, where he graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Land Management from the University of the South Pacific.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Malau says the graduation marked more than the completion of his postgraduate qualification, it also marked the beginning of better opportunities and greater achievements ahead.
Sharing his journey, Malau says the milestone was achieved through determination and sacrifice.
Malau, who works at the iTaukei Land Trust Board in Labasa, says balancing his studies with full-time employment was one of the challenges he faced, as managing weekly classes alongside his work responsibilities required careful time management and commitment.
However, he said that despite the challenges, his family remained a strong source of encouragement and support.
With his postgraduate diploma now completed, Malau is already looking ahead to pursuing a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA).
He also used his graduation milestone to encourage other degree holders and working professionals not to stop their education after earning their first qualification.
He stressed that, with more graduates entering the workforce, additional qualifications and education can help people build on their existing experience and remain competitive in their careers.
Malau is the first of his three siblings to attend tertiary education and achieve this qualification.
