Learning the hard way
LEARNING the hard way motivates you to become a strong person. This is best said for Shavindar Singh, the son of a cane grower who became a senior data governance analyst.
Shavindar was born and brought up at Naidiri settlement on the outskirts of Cuvu, Nadroga. He spent most of his school days with his parents before moving to Suva for a few years to attain a Bachelor in Commerce majoring in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of the South Pacific.
A Cuvu boy at heart, he vividly recalls the struggles both his parents endured to send him and his siblings to school and acquire a better life. He worked hard in school and promised himself that he would make his parents proud and get a job that would offer him a better life.
“I am basically the son of a farmer and I learnt quite a lot of things from a very young age growing up in Naidiri,” Shavindar recalled.
“It was never easy living a life that revolved around the farm and helping my dad after school.
“But as I grew older, I realised that my dad was teaching me the hard way so that I could go out to the world a strong man.”
Shavindar never regretted his choice of career. At 30, his daily responsibilities at the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in Suva, where he works, include overseeing master data management, business intelligence platform, policies and frameworks for data protection.
Before joining Coca Cola, he was an application consultant who worked in the area of quality assurance testing, application trainings and data warehouse maintenance support.
At a young age, the ‘Cuvu boy’, a tag he proudly wears, has attained quite a lot in his short professional life.
But despite his busy work schedule, he never forgets his humble beginning. Once in a while, he travels down to Naidiri and reminisce the good old days with his parents and family.
To Shavindar, the sweet aroma of cane and fresh vegetables at his Naidiri home will always remind him of the struggles he endured to have a better life..
He says he will always acknowledge his father, who despite his recurring health problems, went out of his way to provide the best for his children.
“am here today because of my parents' motivation and hard work.
“I will never trade anything in life for this and I will forever be indebted to them for going out of their way to provide the best for us.
“The teachings of our parents should motive us to work hard and set goals to achieve in life.”
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