Age no barrier to learning
THERE is no age limit to learning as one continues to learn until one pass away, says 50-yearold Melaia Ligari.
She was among the 840 women who graduated during the Fiji National University graduation ceremony held last Thursday and Friday.
Ms Ligari graduated with a Level 5 Certificate in Teaching of Technical, Vocational, Education and Training.
The Serua native credited her success to her late husband, late father and father-in-law as they were her main motivators throughout her educational journey.
As tears rolled down her cheeks, Ms Ligari said her husband’s passing in 2019 left her facing a huge financial burden.
“My husband passed away in 2019 and I was studying four units, so with his death I found it hard to pay for my units therefore I did not sit for my exam,” she said.
“My lecturers called and told me to come and sit for my exam, but I couldn’t as I did not pay my fees.
“I enrolled again the following year and I managed to complete all the eight units last year.”
She said she always had a passion for teaching early on in life, however, she could not pursue her dreams because of financial challenges.
“After high school I worked as a data entry clerk, clerical officer, receptionist and customer service jobs at various firms across the country.”
After working in various organisations, mainly in administrative roles, her dreams of becoming a teacher came true when she started her teaching career at Ballantine Memorial School.
Ms Ligari said studying with students, who were much younger than her, was challenging, but she never let it discourage her.
“In 2018, some of my students from BMS were there so that was a challenge as they kept calling me madam. I had to tell them to address me by my name.
“Often the younger students gave me looks, but I just chose to ignore them and focus on my studies.”
The mother of four said managing a household as a single parent, working and studying was never an easy task, but with God’s grace and through hard work she managed to pull through. “
Sometimes I just wanted to give up, but I knew I had to achieve my goal and giving up was not an option.”
Ms Ligari plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree in education to prove that age should never be a barrier and the sky is the limit.
She was part of the 586 College of Humanities and Arts students who graduated from the FNU on Friday.