Becoming the first in her family to graduate and win a gold medal has made it a proud double achievement for 21-year-old Tanisha Bi, who graduated from the University of Fiji with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Bi who is from Rifle Range in Lautoka and is the eldest in a family of five, says winning the gold medal and certificate for Outstanding Journalism and Media Studies Student came as a surprise.
INSERT: Tanisha on achievement 18th Apr
Bi says she was initially passionate about becoming a lawyer, but due to certain circumstances, she decided to pursue journalism.
She says her passion for journalism grew from a desire to become the voice of others and help people.
She says her biggest inspiration has always been her parents, who supported her unconditionally, even on the days she felt like she was failing, adding that their belief in her kept her going, while her friends also stood by her as a strong pillar of support.
Bi says one of the biggest challenges she faced during her studies was financial difficulty, as her father was the sole breadwinner of the family.
INSERT: Tanisha on challenges 18th Apr
She says she overcame these challenges through perseverance, managing her finances carefully and gradually becoming more confident and independent.
She revealed that there was a time she almost quit, but her mother’s encouragement and the reminder of how important education for young girls motivated her to continue pursuing her career.
Bi also acknowledged her lecturers Vimal Madhavan, Mithleshni Gurdayal and Vijay Narayan for their guidance and mentorship.
She says Narayan has been her role model since primary school, and becoming a journalist now feels like a dream come true.
She says her lecturers guided her, taught her about media, the code of ethics and helped her develop her interviewing, communication and public speaking skills.
Looking ahead, Bi plans to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations at UniFiji from next semester and hopes to become a well-known journalist.
She says she also wants to explore more opportunities in media and public relations to grow her skills.
Bi also has a message for young girls, urging them to stay in school and work hard.
She says education is powerful and can help shape a better future, encouraging girls to become strong and independent.
