It was an emotional moment for 21-year-old Ashaan Raniga from Yalalevu, Ba, as he graduated from the Fiji National University with honours in the presence of his grandparents, who had travelled from Canada to witness the occasion.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance and received two awards — a Gold Medal Award of Excellence and the Pherrus Pty (Fiji) Ltd Prize for Topper in the Bachelor of Commerce programme.
While speaking to fijivillage News, he says he was overwhelmed to receive the awards, as he had initially thought it would be a bit difficult for him, as there are other students who are putting in similar efforts.
He says he has always tried to be diligent in his studies and has managed to achieve good marks in all his exams.
The man from Ba has dedicated the awards to his family, saying their support has helped him reach the position he is in today.
Raniga says he was happy to be graduating in the presence of his parents and his grandparents, who had taken the time to travel to Fiji just to celebrate the day with him.
When asked about the challenges he faced during his studies, Raniga says it was a bit challenging to adjust to university life at first, as he was not used to it during his first year, but he gradually adapted and has come a long way since.
He expressed his gratitude to the lecturers at Fiji National University who were always available to answer his questions and guide him throughout his learning journey.
He also says the friends and connections he made at the university played a key role in helping him navigate student life, and he was grateful for their presence.
His father, Sunil Raniga, says it was a joyous moment for the entire family to see him graduate with honours, and they were all proud of his achievements.
He says the family would always be there to support him, and they hope to see him reach even greater heights in the future.
