Not achieving one’s dream does not mean that succeeding is unattainable. With determination and commitment, success is possible.
This was the attitude that led 26-year-old Adi Reki Mua Vivi from Navolau 2 in Rakiraki, Ra to complete her degree. Adi Reki said she would pinch her herself because it was hard for her to believe that she’d become a lawyer.
As a child, she had big aspirations.
“I never actually dreamt that I’d be a lawyer.
“When I was growing up, I wanted to be so many things, even a prime minister. At high school, I thought I wanted to be a doctor.”
Instead of pursuing her own dream, she chose to fulfill the dreams of her family members.
“My dad had a dream for me. “He wanted me to become an accountant.
“I did arts and was enjoying the field I was in.
“I was enjoying it because I wanted to please my father.
“It was my aunt’s dream, my dad’s only sister, for me to pursue law. I wanted to be a doctor.”
In her quest to fulfill her aunt’s dream, she had to overcome great challenges.
“The challenge was moving away from my comfort zone and living my parents behind, my mom especially, in Rakiraki, and staying in the capital with relatives.”
“I had to blend into an environment which was totally new.
“And that was one of the most challenging experiences I’ve ever had.”
However, she endured. “I wanted to give up at some stage.
“The problem is, I am a determined girl. “When I want something, I will achieve it. “That has kept me moving.
“The experience was not easy because it wasn’t my dream.”
She said she would constantly remember her parent’s struggles and even though he (dad) couldn’t fulfill his father’s dream, he had to achieve something.
“Likewise, my dad and mum constantly reminded me that I had to pursue this and to achieve something in life.”
Despite her passion in becoming a doctor, she found common ground. “I’ve always wanted to become a doctor to help people.
“But if you think about it, I’m also helping people by solving problems.”
Adi Reki says she is grateful to her family and her cousins, Leone and Miliana, for helping her complete her education.
“When you’re down, you’re not out. You’ve got a whole lot of things ahead of you and you’ve got to achieve it no matter what people say. ”
“If people say you can’t do it then you got to prove them wrong by being determined and working hard.”
