What once filled the plate of a homesick university student now sits beside a hard-earned degree.
For Margie Ladybird Simiti, tuna and Maggi are more than simple meals. They are reminders of the road she travelled to graduation.
Simiti has graduated from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics with minors in International Business and Marketing.
Behind the graduation gown is a three-year journey marked by homesickness, illness, late nights, family prayers and moments when simply getting through the day was an achievement.
Away from home, university life tested her resilience. Assignments and deadlines came with the territory, while periods of illness added another hurdle. Through it all, those humble meals became part of a chapter she now looks back on with gratitude.
“Sometimes, it is simply choosing to take the next step,” Simiti said, reflecting on what the difficult days taught her.
Through every twist and turn, her faith remained her anchor. She credits God with giving her the strength and direction to keep moving when the path ahead was unclear.
“I trusted that I was being guided in the right direction,” she said.
Her parents, family and friends were also part of the achievement. Their prayers, sacrifices and encouragement helped carry her across the finish line, while her friends stood beside her through the stress, sickness, laughter and homesickness.
“They made the difficult days lighter and the good days even more memorable,” she told Tala Fou mai Vaifanua.
For Simiti, the degree is not a solo victory.
“I see my name on it, but I also see the people who helped me get there.”
Her studies strengthened her understanding of economics, business and the wider world, but university also taught her lessons that cannot be measured by grades — how to handle pressure, adapt, persevere and keep going when plans fall apart.
Now, she hopes to turn that education into a meaningful career and eventually contribute to Samoa and its people.
“I want my education to have a purpose beyond my own success,” she said.
As she closes this chapter, the tuna and Maggi remain small but powerful symbols of how far she has travelled. What began as simple student meals became part of a story of perseverance, faith and dreams.
“I leave it with something much greater: a qualification, unforgettable memories, valuable lessons, and the courage to dream even bigger.”
For Margie, the degree is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of a wider horizon.
