Fourteen years after first stepping through the doors of the Fiji National University (FNU), Jackie Marie Duvaga has returned with a bigger dream, which is to move beyond the housekeeping floor, and build a career in hospitality and hotel management.

The 33-year-old is a second-year Bachelor of Hospitality and Hotel Management student at FNU’s College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies (CBHTS), bringing with her, valuable experience from Fiji’s tourism industry.

Her connection with FNU began in 2012, when she enrolled at the National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC), where she completed a Certificate in Screen Printing and Signage.

At the time, Jackie was focused on building work experience. But as the years passed, she began to see new possibilities for herself.

“I never imagined that after so many years, I would return to FNU to pursue a degree. At the time, I was focused on working, but as I gained more experience, I realised that I wanted to grow and achieve more in my career. I would see my friends serving food and beverages to guests and others taking on management responsibilities at the resort.”

“Watching them made me realise there were so many opportunities within the hospitality industry. I started thinking about where I wanted to be in the future. I did not want to remain in one position. I wanted to gain the knowledge and qualification, that would allow me to progress,” Jackie said.

Her practical experience in housekeeping gave her a strong foundation, but she knew she needed to understand more, about the business and management side of the industry.

“I knew I needed to improve myself and gain more knowledge. I already had practical experience from working in the resort, but I wanted to understand the management side of the industry as well. Working in housekeeping taught me that every role in a hotel, is important. Guests may not always see the work happening behind the scenes, but it contributes directly to their experience,” she added.

Returning to education after 14 years, has not always been easy. Jackie had to adjust to being a student again, while drawing on the discipline and people skills she developed through her work.

“Coming back to study after 14 years, was challenging at first. The learning environment had changed, and I had to adjust to being a student again. But my work experience taught me discipline, responsibility and how to work with different people,” Jackie shared.

Throughout the journey, Jackie has also had the support of her family, particularly her father, Epeli Duvaga, and her sister, Salanieta Likusavu. Their encouragement helped, give her the confidence to return to school and pursue a goal she had carried for years.

“My father has always encouraged me to work towards my dreams. He motivated me to believe that I could go back to school and achieve something more. My sister has also been very supportive. My father, husband and sister, have reminded me to believe in myself. Having people who believe in you makes a big difference, especially when you are returning to education after so many years,” she said.

Now, Jackie is focused on completing her degree and turning her experience and education into a career in management.

“My goal is to complete my degree and use the knowledge I gain to move into management. I want to become someone who can lead, make decisions and contribute to the success of a hospitality business. It is never too late to return to school. You may take a different path in life, but if you still have a dream, you should not give up on it. I am grateful that I listened to the people who encouraged me, and now I want to keep working hard and make the most of this second chance,” Jackie reiterated.

Returning to FNU is a chance for Jackie, to build on the experience she has gained, challenge herself and create a future beyond the role where her journey began.

“It’s important that we keep reminding one another that, career paths do not always follow a straight line, and that sometimes, taking a second chance on yourself, can be the first step towards something bigger,” she elaborated.

Jackie is originally from Dakuinuku, Sawakasa in Tailevu, with maternal links to Naivicula in Wainibuka, Tailevu. She has worked as a housekeeping attendant at Malolo Island Resort, before deciding it was time to take the next step in her career.