GO where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Those words by 19th Century American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson speak of someone who’s never been afraid to take the road less travelled, someone very much like Duncan James, who’s living a life filled with transformative experiences and a deep passion for people.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Duncan, 23, is pursuing studies in Early Childhood Education at USP, an experience he describes as both challenging and rewarding.
“I grew up in Melbourne,” he shared.
“I have a mother and a father, Linda and Warren, and a little sister named Daisy and a dog named Rusty.
“They’re back in Melbourne at the moment and I’ve been really grateful for all of their support. Even times apart have made us all grow closer.”
Duncan’s early years were grounded in a supportive family environment, with both parents working in public service, his father as a plumber who now works for the Building Authority in Australia, and his mother as a primary school librarian.
He attended Pascoe Vale South Primary School and later Strathmore Secondary College, a well-known government school in Melbourne.
There, he discovered two passions that would shape his future: basketball and education.
“I made some great friends for life and really found my passion for basketball and education there too.
“I’m really lucky to have had some great teachers.”
Although Duncan experimented with music, playing the trumpet in school, it was his connection with people that truly stood out.
“I think I definitely looked up to some teachers at a younger age.
“I wasn’t sure if it was something that I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to be involved with people, and communication was one of my strengths.”
After high school, Duncan began degree studies in health science but quickly realised it wasn’t the right fit.
“I thought it was getting a bit too sciencey for me.”
Soon after, an unexpected opportunity took him to the United States. Duncan and a teammate were offered the chance to play basketball at a school in Kansas.
At 19, he spent a year in the US, an experience that helped him develop discipline and a deeper sense of self.
“2021 was just a great year of growth, in all of the ups and all of the downs.”
In December last year, another life-changing moment came when he was informed he would be transferred to Fiji as an exchange student to study at USP.
“When I found out I was coming to USP, I was very excited for the future memories that I’d be creating.
“This is my first-time in Fiji and I feel comfortable ’cause it’s still pretty close to home too.”
He arrived in July and first reunited with a friend in Nadi before settling into student life in Suva.
“We stayed a night there, caught the bus down and just talked the whole time about the excitement that both of us had.”
Now, living with housemates and focused on his studies, Duncan has immersed himself in the local education landscape.
He recently attended the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) annual general meeting, which he described as “uplifting and empowering”.
Looking ahead, Duncan hopes to become a humanities teacher, with a strong desire to work in remote Indigenous communities in Australia.
At the same time, he remains passionate about basketball and hopes to continue his athletic pursuits.
“Ultimately, I want to be a humanities teacher and definitely want to be teaching in a remote Indigenous community in Australia.
“I also want to pursue my basketball career. So, it kind of doesn’t really go hand in hand, but I’ve got passion for both.”
Duncan is also passionate about Indigenous and colonial history in Australia and wants to see improvements in how it’s taught in schools.
“I wouldn’t say reform, but just alterations, improvements. A lot of things are kind of shied away from being taught.
“And I think there needs to be more emphasis on that, the positives, the negatives, everything in between. History is history. So, that’s my view on it.”
His philosophy is simple but profound: Chase opportunity. It’s a mindset that has taken him from Melbourne to Kansas and now to Fiji.
“The advice I’d give is to just chase opportunity. You never know where you’re going to be.”
