Fiji Sun

‘Determined’ Joshua Will Stop at Nothing to Get into Med School

- JENNIS NAIDU

The walls of Lambert Hall at the Marist Brothers High School (MBHS) echoed loud with applause and appreciati­on to the announceme­nt of their new head boy, Joshua Lewenilovo. Joshua, who hails from Somosomo in Taveuni, is no stranger to sorrow or loss.

But that did not deter him standing up on the stage, holding the Marist torch high, with the badge pinned to his shirt yesterday.

The eighteen-year-old, the youngest of the three siblings, had to fill in the big shoes of his older brother upon his passing when he was just in Class 4 and he will not stop till he is in medical school next year. “When my brother died, I was really young. I did not know what was going on but as the years went by, his roles and responsibi­lities dawned on me so the family expectatio­ns were very high,” he said. “My dad really expected me to perform, especially in academic.

“I did not expect this, but with the Lord, all things are possible. If you put Him first in everything that you do, He will put you first.

“I am thankful to the Lord, my family for the support and my Marist brothers. If it were not for them, I would not be here today.” Father Jekesoni Yavala praised his son.

“He is the youngest of all my children. He lost out on a lot because of his elder brother’s passing but he knows what sorrow is and he is a very determined boy and he does things independen­tly,” Mr Yavala said.

“I think the teachers will know that, and we are proud of him as parents.”

Mother Maria Lewenilovo said: “I am very happy with what he has achieved today this does not come surprise to the family, he was head boy in primary school so being head boy again in secondary is a great achievemen­t.”

 ?? Photo: Kelera Sovasiga ?? Chief guest Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum congratula­tes Marist Brothers High School head boy Joshua Lewenilovo during the school’s prefects induction ceremony on February 6, 2020 at Lambert Hall in Flagstaff, Suva.
Photo: Kelera Sovasiga Chief guest Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum congratula­tes Marist Brothers High School head boy Joshua Lewenilovo during the school’s prefects induction ceremony on February 6, 2020 at Lambert Hall in Flagstaff, Suva.
 ?? Photo: Kelera Sovasiga ?? From left: Dad Jekesoni Yavala, MBHS head boy Joshua Lewenilovo with niece Mary Banner, sister Adi Paulini with nephew George Banner, mum Maria Lewenilovo and sister Adi Lagilagi after the prefects induction ceremony at Lambert Hall in Flagstaff, Suva, on February 6, 2020.
Photo: Kelera Sovasiga From left: Dad Jekesoni Yavala, MBHS head boy Joshua Lewenilovo with niece Mary Banner, sister Adi Paulini with nephew George Banner, mum Maria Lewenilovo and sister Adi Lagilagi after the prefects induction ceremony at Lambert Hall in Flagstaff, Suva, on February 6, 2020.

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