PASSION TO SERVE
SHAMAL Rai is an overcomer and has defied all odds to be where he is today. The 28-year-old Vanua Levu lad was the first male nurse to be recruited into the Fiji Corrections Service after completing 13 weeks of basic recruitment training in 2017. Rai said he was proud to be part of the team of men and women at FCS tasked to serve the nation.
“My short stint here has taught me a great deal about the job I will be required to carry out, Raj said.
“The training course instils a sense of discipline and diligence on the line of duty and I’ve become more appreciative of life.”
Rai said it was an opportunity for him to grow and become a strong and much better person.
“I had to sacrifice my family time to serve the people who needed my care. I have learned about good leadership skills and all the thanks to FCS Commander Commissioner Francis Kean for giving me such an opportunity.”
Rai said being a Fijian of Indian descent and joining an institution as such was a challenge in itself.
“It was hard at first because this is an institution that needs a lot of patience to endure great things and a lot of discipline, and I am so glad that I was able to overcome that.”
However, after attaining his Bachelor of Nursing in 2018, Rai resigned from the institution and joined the Ministry of Health. He is now the clinical team leader at the emergency department in Lautoka.
“I love to help people and that is why I left the institution to work in the hospital.
“I’ve learned that everyone struggles in life to achieve their goals. I have gone through a lot of struggles in my life and the only thing that has kept me going is my family.
“My dad is the best inspiration for me and I always appreciate such a great family. “
Rai is calling on parents to be more supportive towards their children and make sure they are given the best upbringing they deserve.
“Never compare your children with other children. They may be weak in some aspects of life, but remember God has sent them for a purpose and not everyone’s purposes or goals are the same.”