From using TV remotes as imaginary microphones at the age of four to reporting real stories, Nilufa Buksh has fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a journalist.
The fijivillage News multimedia journalist has graduated from the University of the South Pacific today with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Journalism and Information Systems.
Buksh, who is originally from Nausori and has maternal links to Ba, says her graduation was a bittersweet moment as she remembered her late grandmother.
INSERT: Buksh on graduation 11th Sept
She dedicates her achievement to her late grandmother, her parents, siblings, and her niece and nephew.
She also thanks Almighty Allah for giving her the strength and knowledge to overcome challenges and graduate with her degree.
Buksh says her passion for journalism began when she was just four years old, watching Al Jazeera.
She recalls taking TV remotes and using them as imaginary microphones, running out into the rain and pretending to be a journalist covering a cyclone.
She says that childhood passion stayed with her and through hard work, has now become a reality.
Her journey was not without challenges.
Buksh says she faced cyber-bullying when she first started working and was grateful to listeners who supported and defended her.
She says she also faced negative comments and false claims from some people in her village, which affected her mentally.
She says balancing her studies, work and spiritual life also became difficult when she started her internship.
Buksh credits her parents for continuously supporting and motivating her through the difficult periods and says her colleagues also played an important role in her journey.
She says there was a point during her final year of journalism studies when she had lost interest in journalism.
However, she says her passion returned when she began her internship and started training under fijivillage News Director Vijay Narayan.
She also acknowledges the support of her colleagues in the Hindi team.
Buksh secured her position as a fijivillage journalist in September last year, before completing her degree.
Her message to students is to never lose hope and to always believe in themselves as they work towards their goals.
And to young women, she has one clear message, which is to get educated and get their degree, as education is one of the most powerful tools they can have.
Buksh now plans to continue her studies, with her sights set on postgraduate education and eventually a PhD.
