Mitchell graduates after prolonged study, caring for sick mother
Despite her graduation being delayed for one year, Chloe Zipporah Puamau Mitchell graduated from the University of Fiji on Friday in Saweni, Lautoka, with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biology and Chemistry.
The 21-year-old Qamea, Taveuni, native with maternal links to Lakeba, Lau, said her program was initially for two years.
It took her three and a-half years because of personal reasons.
“In the final year of my study, my mom passed away, so that was hard,” she said.
“I had to stay home and most of the time to be with her in the hospital, so that delayed my graduation last year. This year, I was able to do it.
“The lecturers were so understanding. They let me stay away from school for a while and they helped me. I think she (her late mother) would be proud, she was very motivating and helpful.”
She said the conducive learning environment also played a role in her achievement.
“I love science and I really love Chemistry at high school, so even now, it’s not boring. I love to keep learning science because it’s interesting to me,” she said.
“Here, you feel safe and the lecturers are very understanding. They understand your situation like financially or anything you’re going through such as mental health issues. I would say there’s no peer pressure from outside, especially because of the location.”
She urges youths to carefully think about their program choice before applying and not to be pressured into pursuing a field they are not passionate about.
“Try to love what you study. If people tell them to study something and it’s not their choice, they shouldn’t choose it because along the line, if you didn’t choose it, you lose the motivation. You have to really love it from the start and make it your choice, not others,” she said.