Women need to feel safe, even if they choose to work in a male-dominated workplace.
Esther Tui Tikoicolo 23, had to deal with sexism when trying to pursue a career in civil engineering.
Facing prejudice, she never gave up on her dreams and worked twice as hard to succeed.
This month not only did Esther graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with Honours (Upper Second Class) from the Fiji National University, she also walked away with the Engineers Fiji Prize for Female Topper in Bachelor of Engineering special award.
Breaking barriers, Esther channeled the setbacks of gender bias to thrive as an aspiring young woman engineer.
She said she didn’t let difficult situations define her.
The 23-year-old who hails from Juju, Rotuma with maternal links to Tubou in Lakeba, Lau thanked her parents for their tremendous support.
With her parents’ guidance she was able to complete her attachment and studies. Now she looks forward to joining the workforce.
“There were ups and downs along the way while studying and doing my attachment, but my parents encouraged and helped me through it all,” she said.
Esther said she couldn’t believe she was awarded the female topper award in engineering.
“This is like a dream come true for me. Seeing my parents cheer me on – seeing their smiles, I know my hard work has finally paid-off.”
For internship, Esther did six months attachment with the Ministry of Public Works.
“The ministry has taken me to places that I’ve never imagined I would go to, so it’s been fun.
She said studying to be a civil engineer was not easy. Being the eldest sibling, she now encourages her sister to complete her studies too.
“My sister is still schooling; she is doing a Bachelor of Environmental Science.
She was also grateful that her grandmother was part of her cheering team at the graduation ceremony.
“I was raised in Levuka by my grandmother; she is here too so I’m very happy.”
Now that she has graduated, Esther hopes to find work and become a registered engineer.
“I want to be one of those women engineers in Fiji.”
She encourages other women to dream big and to not let setbacks hold them back from achieving their dreams in life.
