For former inmate Aisea Toribau, his success is not defined by the past mistakes he made, but by the transformation he underwent through education.
Toribau recently attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Management, and he plans to pursue a Master's in Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
In his early 20s, while working at a bank, Toribau committed a crime for which he was charged with obtaining a financial advantage by deception and served a two-year prison sentence.
Speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Toribau reflected on the role education played in his redemption.
He says facing the public after prison was one of the hardest things, but he was determined to make a fresh start.
INSERT: Toribau on facing the public 21st Jan
Toribau admits that returning to university was full of fear and uncertainty.
He says before his incarceration, he was a well-known student at Fiji National University, often helping classmates with their coursework.
He adds that walking back into campus as a former inmate was a challenge.
Toribau shares that on his first day back at FNU, he wore a hat, and for the first week, he wore hoodies to hide his shame.
He says that despite closed doors and silent judgement, he refused to give up.
He adds that he told himself that he had to start somewhere, and education was the only way out.
Toribau praised FNU’s support system, saying lecturers who knew him personally listened to his story and stood by him, while counselling also played a role in helping him regain balance.
He says his motivation came from his father, who always told them that education is important and that he would support them no matter what.
Toribau says he wants his journey to stand as proof that second chances are possible.
He says he hopes to inspire others through his education journey, the incarceration he went through, and his plans for the future.
