Meet 25-year-old Maraia Tokabau, a flight attendant on board Fiji domestic airline Fiji Link.
Behind Ms Tokabau’s neatly combed buiniga, radiant smile and unique personality is an island girl who overcame adversity to soar to unprecedented heights.
Originally from Waya Levu, Yasawa, with maternal links to Dakuni Village, Beqa, Ms Tokabau attended primary school at the Sawau District School where she was academically nurtured.
It was where her dream was born. It was in the four corners of her school that she learned of life outside of the island; books took her places she had never been to before, and the dream of working in the airline industry was manifested by this once scrawny girl.
Growing up, life did not come easy, as she was raised by her maternal grandparents on Beqa.
“I was only two months old when they took me under their care and they persevered on until today,” said Ms Tokabau.
“I can confidently say that life was not that easy. I witnessed their silent cries and the sacrifices and challenges that followed.
“I am grateful they never gave up on me and I on them.”
After the completion of her primary education, Ms Tokabau left the nest to further her education in the mainland where she attended Nasinu Secondary School before completing her seventh-grade examination at Ratu Sukuna Memorial School.
“It was the first time for me to leave my grandparents and discover a new world independently as I was a boarder at the school.
“I can clearly remember their advice and that was for me to put God first in every decision I make.
“They advised me to complete school and achieve my dream because they’d like to see me make it out of the village and take care of myself first before I do so for others.
“For me, that was always the driving factor and a big source of motivation.”
Ms Tokabau said she was thankful for the challenges God sets in her path and the strength to overcome them.
“From those challenges, I learned the goodness of God and that he lifts the lowly.”
Ms Tokabau pursued a Bachelor’s in Primary Education at the Fiji National University Natabua campus.
“I think this was a period of my life where I was tested on so many levels. There were a lot of barriers to achieving a degree.”
Ms Tokabau said although she studied to be a teacher, her initial dream was to become a flight attendant for the national carrier, Fiji Airways.
She applied five times and was rejected each time.
“I thought of giving up that dream and following through with my studies, but in a way, God was speaking to me to give it another go.”
It was on her sixth attempt that she finally received a call from recruiters of the national domestic carrier informing her that she was accepted.
Now she wears the Fiji Link uniform, something she had anticipated for a long time, all due to her unwavering determination.
Ms Tokabau’s commitment to to pursue her dream is a testament to her faith in God and her obedience to her elders.
Her advice to young people is to never let naysayers lower their self-esteem and to face the challenges head-on.
