Luisa Grace Tuituku Tagicakibau may be a shy young woman. But of late, she has been on top of the world.
Luisa was one of the many who received their respective degrees during the recent University of the South Pacific graduation.
She hails from Lovu, Gau in the province of Lomaiviti maternal links to Nukuni, Ono-i-Lau.
The eledest of three siblings, Luisa’s journey to success finds its roots in very humble beginnings.
She grew up witnessing the struggles her parents went through to provide the best for the family.
“I grew up in a family where I watched my parents struggle every day to provide for us,” she said.
“It was difficult to see them work tirelessly, sacrificing their own needs to ensure their children were well fed and dressed.
“Despite the financial hardships, they always did their best, showing us love and support in ways that money couldn’t buy.
Their determination and resilience taught the young Luisa the value of hardwork and perseverance.
Though life proved tough, the family remained close-knit and determined.
Lusia was educated at Suva Adventist Primary School and Suva Adventist College, up to Form 6, before finishing off at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School.
Initially, the accounting profession tickled her fancy. But she later decided to pursue a science degree, after a turn of events changed her life.
“I chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science majoring in biology and chemistry.
“Initially I didn’t plan on this path, but I believed it was all part of Gods plan in my life.”
Just like her humble upbringing, Luisa’s academic journey was not an easy path. She made sure she remained steadfast and spiritually grounded in order to weather the storm.
“Balancing coursework, group projects and assignments across different subjects was definitely a challenge throughout my tertiary education.
“But I managed to pull through till the end, never slipping into failure. This success would not have happened without this God.”
Wearing her outfit on graduation day, with friends and loved ones by her side, made her accomplishment even more unforgetable.
“Graduation felt like a huge accomplishment for me. It was definitely a mix of relief and excitement to see hard work pay off.
“It was even more exciting because I graduated with my friend, who had been with me side by side, throughout the journey.
“My beautiful and supportive family, especially my great parents were there to support me, along with a few close friends of mine.”
In the next five years, the new graduate hopes to contribute to the advancement of her field.
“I see myself building a solid career in the science field, possibly in a research or lab position.
“I hope my valuable experience and knowledge could be used in projects that contribute to great advancement in the field.”
Luisa’s advice to the younger generation is to “not be afraid” and try out new things.
She believes the future has open doors for her.
“Put God first in everything,” she said.
“Don’t be afraid of change and unexpected paths, sometimes what you didn’t plan might turn out to be exactly what you love so be open to new experiences and always give your best.”
