Good things come to those who wait but great things come to those who endure. The same could be said for 23-year-old Neha Shivani Ram.
In pursuit of her dreams, she had to encounter pain. Her education journey was fraught with the agony of losing her father, struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic and being away from her loved ones.
However, she reaped the rewards of her struggles last month when she stood tall amongst 1,786 University of the South Pacific students who graduated in their various fields of study.
Ms Ram said she was still trying to process how her dream had come true.
“As I went up to receive my certificate, I felt like I did it but couldn’t process much of that moment, “she said.
“But as I sat down it occurred to me that I was finally done, it was a huge relief.” Her reward seemed bitter sweet, as she had to go through suffering initially.
She said losing her father in 2021 was not easy because he was her biggest supporter and source of strength.
She mentioned how her father would always tell people he met that his daughter was studying at USP and he was proud of her.
“I wanted to see the smile on his face, that his daughter has finally graduated but unfortunately he is not here,” Ms Ram said.
“I know he is looking down and smiling from heaven.”
Apart from losing a father, she had to travel daily from Nausori to the Laucala Campus, a journey she described as ‘hectic and tiring’.
“I would leave home before the sun rises and reach home after the sun sets, most of the time I would sleep on the bus.
“I slept on the bus so I could reach home fresh and have time to study again. I had to sacrifice my sleeping hours.”
Later, she decided to move closer to campus. Moving away from home and beginning an independent life closer to university was another huge step in her life. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic and took it as an opportunity to grow and learn new things.
Just as things started to look good, the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
In no time, she was faced with the closure of schools, lockdown and curfews. These disruptions took a toll on her academic journey.
“At that time I did not have a computer or a laptop so during the lockdown I had to use my phone to type my assignments and do my quizzes.”
Describing her as an environmentalist, she said she was never someone who was shy of getting her hands and feet dirty.
Ms Ram urges youths to do what they are passionate about and love.
“If you do something you love and have passion in then no doubt you will have fun and succeed in it.”
