Ilisoni Rabeti with his wife and daughter collecting his certificate FNU Natabua Campus.

Completing all the requirements for a rigorous academic programme can be a challenge for many university students and for 30-year-old Ilisoni Rabeti it was twice the challenge. Rabeti simultaneously completed two qualifications from Fiji National University (FNU), which he described as deepening his knowledge and expertise within two separate study areas.

Rabeti recently attained a Bachelor of Nursing from the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS). He has also completed an Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management from FNU’s National Training & Productivity Centre (NTPC) and will graduate in March.

The Vanua Levu native said that the support he received from his wife, children, relatives, colleagues and classmates enabled him to finish his programmes successfully and on time.

Rabeti is a firm believer that there is no shortcut to success.

“Nothing worth having comes easy, and at some point in our life, our goals might seem impossible whereby we tend to lose our patience. This leads us to look for shortcuts as we are tired and perceive that our hard work is not bearing fruits. But I believe that hard work will pay later, though the path of hard work is not easy, the destination it leads to will be worth all the difficulties,” he said.

To achieve something in life, Rabeti said that commitment is the key to success.

“I was able to complete the two programmes because of my persistent efforts. I developed an undying desire to achieve my goals, and considered all the roadblocks and failures mere speed humps in my academic journey,” he said.

Rabeti knew from an early age that he wanted to work as a health worker. In 2009, after completing his secondary education at Labasa College, he enrolled at the then Fiji School of Nursing, now School of Nursing under CMNHS to pursue a Diploma in Nursing.

After graduation, he worked for six years with the Ministry of Health. In 2018, he got an opportunity to work as an officer at Fiji Corrections Service, the position he currently holds.

The soft-spoken Rabeti said he loved attending classes at FNU.

“All the lecturers that took me for classes were amazing. I have never had any difficulty with enrolment. I loved the campuses and the resources available at each of them,” he said.

Juggling two diverse programmes were exhausting for Rabeti, but he took time to refocus and recharge.

“Everything I required to succeed, whether it was quiet room to focus and study or somewhere to enjoy the cool breeze was available to me at FNU,” he adds.

As for his future goals, Rabeti plans to practice his learning at the Fiji Correction Service. He also aspires to pursue a Masters in Nursing and endeavours to take studies in Human resources.

Rabeti’s advice to students facing challenges is “set your mind on your goal, and you will figure it out.”