No matter how many times you’ve failed, it’s never too late to go back to school. That is the truth that 50-year-old Adi Alesi Talatoka Raboiliku Nabotiloma has learned in her education journey.
The Nakaunakoro, Kadavu, native with maternal links to Lomanikoro, Rewa, is presently pursuing a masters of arts degree, majoring in Fijian studies, at the University of the South Pacific.
Ms Nabotiloma may embody the spirit of resilience but things didn’t come easy for her.
She encountered personal challenges but made sure she rose above them.
Her current program of study is the first of its kind and she is the only student studying fulltime.
“Before they used to have master in linguistics but from this year they started this program and I’m the one in my cohort who is studying full-time whereas the others are part time,” she said.
Ms Nabotiloma said she was at home for seven years from 2013 to 2020, retiring from her work as a teacher and her studies. She said she had a tough time trying to rediscover herself in her seven-year sabbatical.
“I looked around and found that everything I tried to accomplish, I couldn’t get through. It felt like I fell short all the time and that took a toll on me ”
Ms Nabotiloma eventually suffered a mental health crisis. But with the strong support from her husband and six children, along with the love she got from her five grandchildren, she managed to sail through her rough patch.
“You know that happened because I was too focusing on my flaws and weaknesses,” she said.
She experience a U-turn when she meditated on the divine and her spiritual health. Slowly, she began to regain her confidence and faced her fears – which was to finish her studies in the bachelor of arts program.
“In 2019, I fasted for 50 days and nights. After that, the urge to return to my studies came back. So in 2022, she undertook some part-time courses before returning to studies in 2023. She had eight units left to get her degree.
“So I did my postgraduate diploma last year and am now waiting for my graduation in April.”
“While waiting, I am doing my masters.”
Ms Nabotiloma said linguistics was more than studying language.
She said even although she had never studied Fijian vernacular in high school, it didn’t deter her from studying linguistics and she encourages young people to take up a passion for studying their mother tongue.
“Even if you didn’t learn Fijian in high school, it doesn’t mean you can’t study linguistics. You don’t have to be fluent in English or Fijian to be good in those two languages.”
“Follow your passion. As long as you have the determination, you will keep going regardless of how many times you falter.”
