Lorraine Turaga.

In the hustle and bustle of life, there are stories that quietly weave through the chaos, showcasing the indomitable spirit of the human heart. Lorraine Turaga’s journey from the streets of Nadi to her pursuit of success is one such tale that tugs at the heartstrings and inspires us all.

The 22-year-old was a familiar face on the streets of Nadi, assisting her mother in selling juice, roti parcels, pies, and egg buns to earn a living and support her family.

From sunrise, until darkness shrouded the streets, the brave Turaga stood strong and refused to let go of her dreams. She ensured that the hustle was a path leading her towards success.

Turaga was driven by her ambition to break the chains of her past and create a brighter future, despite the violence in her family.

Knowing that education would be the answer to a brighter future, she enrolled in the Diploma in Customs (Level 5) programme at the Fiji National University (FNU). After three years, she triumphantly received her graduation certificate, overcoming obstacles with unflinching resolve and persistent effort.

“My father tried to provide for our needs as he was a sugarcane farmer and later became a handicraft salesman. My mother used to sell juice, roti, pies, and egg buns at the market. She was hardworking and taught me how to ‘hustle’. She also sold milo, coffee, and tea as a replacement for juice at night,” she shared.

“My mom highly prioritised our education and supported our sports interests as well. She funded my hockey and netball expenses from the money earned at the Market.

However, success did not come without its fair share of hardships. Tragedy struck Turaga’s life when her mother fell ill, and she couldn’t accompany her on their street vending journey.

“My whole world collapsed when she became paralysed while I was in Year 12. I was lost and remembered crying for nights, asking God, ‘Why?’ Life was never the same for me after that. It was really hard trying to take care of her while studying for the most important exam year of my life and keeping up with the household chores and cooking,” she shared quietly.

“Nevertheless, I appreciate my parents for loving me enough to give me the best they could. I appreciate my dad for not giving up on our family. I appreciate my mom for everything, the life skills she taught me and her immeasurable love and support.”

“My mom being bedridden greatly impacted why I was brave enough to make a move to get out and make something out of myself.”

Turaga transformed her pain into purpose and her struggles into stepping stones toward a brighter future.

She is currently employed by FedEx Express Fiji. She was blessed enough to be offered permanent employment by the company as an operations support agent in the export department.

“Every day is an interesting day. Working in a freight company, you never really know what to expect as cargoes come in and out of our country, especially when discovering prohibited goods and understanding what is allowed and not allowed to be sent to other countries. This job has been an awesome learning experience for me, and I love it,” she said.

“Customs is a great field to join. It’s a vast field, really. If you want to enter the customs industry, you must be dedicated to the job and heed the advice given to you by senior employees. As my manager always tells me, ‘Do not work hard; work smart.”

“Being poor is motivation enough. Since I was young, I have always wanted the best for myself and my family. I want my younger brother to have the things I never had growing up, and I want to build a family house for my father to retire in.”

Turaga shared a quote that she has on the walls of her bedroom: “Sometimes you really struggle with something, and you feel like you must be the only one in the entire world who feels the way you do right now. There are other people who are in the same or a similar battle, but there are also people who have won,” she said.

“There are people with battle scars all over them, but they won, and if they knew what you were going through, they would cheer for you. Please keep going; know that you can win. It will take much strength, but strength can be built, and losing some battles does not mean you lose the war. You can and will win.”

Semester 2, 2023 studies

Interested students can Apply Now for Semester 2 studies via the FNU website on https://www.fnu.ac.fj/student/ or email to admission@fnu.ac.fj

For further information or queries, students can also Text (Toll-Free) to 857 for Vodafone and Inkk users.

Alternatively, applicants can visit any of the FNU campuses to submit applications.

Classes for Semester 2 begin in July 2023.