ALICE Adikoula Puamau believes that when one puts his or her priorities in God, all things are made possible.
The Nasaqalau, Lakeba, Lau native with maternal links to Savusavu in Cakaudrove is currently doing her Professional Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of the South Pacific (USP), a six-month intensive program done after the completion of law studies.
Looking back, the 23-year-old believes reaching this far in education has been an unbelievable and amazing journey.
Puamau grew up with a foot defect but she did not let it stop her from pursuing her dreams.
“I was born with one of my legs inverted inside so my dad fought tooth and nail to get my leg straightened,” she said.
“Back then they didn’t have the technology to straighten my leg, so my dad had to ask one of his high school friend’s father to help him.”
This procedure was done when she was barely one week old.
“I was one year old when I started kindergarten at USP.
“I did two years in kindergarten before starting Class 1 at three years, nine months and 24 days old at Bishop Kempthorne Memorial School,
She did Class 2 at Suva Primary and classes 3 to 8 at Vatuwaqa Primary School
She attended Jai Narayan College until Year 13 and moved to Suva Grammar School at the age of 16.
For her tertiary education, she attended USP where she had enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce program, with a double major in International Business Marketing and Law.
“Coming into university at the age of 17 was a big challenge for me. I was barely 18, having grown up in a strict environment and then thrown into an atmosphere where you have so much freedom.”
Puamau said although her first year as a university student was a rollercoaster, her parents made her stand in good stead and ensured she stayed focused on her journey.
She remained focused on her studies and worked for Habitat Humanity Fiji from the second semester until early this year.
“I tried to apply for a PDLP but was told that in order to do it, I had to do a certain number of units. So, I went back to USP in 2022 and did those extra 11 units.”
She feels grateful for meeting so many people along the way who moulded her into the woman she is today. She also thanks the endless support from her family.
“Every person that I met gave me the opportunity to learn,” she said.
“If you don’t have the right friends while doing law, you’ll find it hard and you’ll barely make it.
“Studying law is not easy … it’s like throwing someone who doesn’t know how to swim into the ocean and telling the person to swim.”
Her advice is to put God first, always and to be the best that you can be.
