Perseverance and Hard Work lands Archibald at USP

From Loganimasi village in Wailevu West, Savusavu, Fiji, Francis Adam Archibald is proof that setbacks do not define one’s future.

Archibald began his educational journey at Indira Gandhi Memorial Primary School before proceeding to Marist Brothers High School (MBHS). Life threw him a challenge when he didn’t pass his Year 12 exam, yet he refused to give up.

“This was a tough moment, but it was not the end. I knew I had to find another way to achieve my goals,” he shared.

With a will to succeed, he enrolled in the Matua Programme at Nabua Secondary School in Suva and completed Year 12 in 2021. He was determined to further his studies in Year 13 the following year but this was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Last year, I finally completed Year 13 through the Matua Programme and this initiative gave me a second chance to redeem myself. It taught me that failure is just a lesson, not a life sentence. I worked harder and, in the end, I proved to myself that I could do it,” he said.

Archibald credits his mother for being his pillar of strength after losing his father at 12 years old. Together with his siblings, they have taken on the role of providing support to the family.

His sister Marisela, who is a USP alumni, now works to support their family while his mother continues to run a small business opposite the Laucala Campus.

“My sister is my role model. She completed studies at USP and seeing her achieve her goals pushes me to do the same.” “My mother is my biggest inspiration. She gave her all for us, and now it’s my turn to give back. My goal is to graduate and make her proud!”

Archibald is now taking the next step in his journey to success at USP by undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce (International Business Marketing and Computer Science) degree.

"I chose this programme because it perfectly blends my passion for technology and business. International Business Marketing and Computer Science together will equip me with the skills to navigate the digital world and drive innovation in global markets," he said.

Archibald chose USP because of its strong regional network, diverse learning environment, and reputation for producing work-ready graduates. He believes that studying at USP will provide him with the knowledge and connections needed to thrive in this career.

“Every setback is a setup for your comeback and I am living proof of that statement,” he declared.

New and continuing students must also register for courses online via  https://studentsols.usp.ac.fj/ before 7 March 2025.

For further assistance, students can reach out via email to contactus@usp.ac.fj