Juggling university and family life may be tough but it did not steer Saleshni Mala Prasad from her goal of pursuing higher education.
And although her journey was fraught with challenges, her diligence enabled her to reap the fruits of her hard work and graduate with a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Fiji.
The 44-year-old mother of two started her working career in the tourism industry but she always had a silent yearning to achieve more.
She said one of the biggest decisions she made in life was settling into motherhood. She focused on her kids more than anything else.
Then when her children were old enough to fend for themselves, she made up her mind to pursue further studies.
In the journey of life, Saleshni came across women who were victims of domestic violence.
Seeing how their children were affected inspired her to study law and help people who face domestic violence in the home. But her motivation and drive would faced challenges.
These included juggling her studies with her duties as a mother and wife, accepting the fact that she was older than most in class and studying with modern technology.
“During those years, I would drop my children off at school in Nadi and then drive down to Lautoka for classes,” she said.
“It (university life) was a great challenge when all my friends were like half my age but they made me be a part of them.
“I was not familiar with the use of technology, at the same time I was juggling my duties as a wife and mother, so I tried to balance them well.
She thanked her husband, Bobby Prasad and her mother, Chandra Kala for assisting her throughout her academic journey and for being her pillar of strength.
She also attributed her success to Professor Mohammed Aziz and FNU vice-chancellor Shaista Shameem.
Saleshni lives with her children and husband in Malolo, Nadi where they operate Portion Pak Ltd, a business that supplyies to hotels and resorts across the country.
