Faith is a critical component of success. But success is impossible to find without obedience. Lynett Vinita Reddy found out as she aspired to get her degree.
The school teacher and Fiji National university student says belief in God and respecting her parents have seen her successfully navigate the twists and turns in her journey.
Furthermore, she said she was living proof to her students that hard work, dedication and perseverance were key to living a good and productive life.
“I came from a background where there wasn’t financial stability,” Ms Reddy said.
“However, this did not stop my parents from ensuring that my siblings and I received the education we needed to make a better life for ourselves.
“Both my parents worked hard to send me to Labasa College and thereafter supported me in my university studies.”
She said hard work and perseverance were instilled in her from a very early age, observed through the struggles her parents went through to feed, clothe and educate the family.
Ms Reddy attended primary school at Naleba Bhartiya School before completing her high school at Naleba College and Labasa College in the province of Macuata.
She later went on to study at the then Fiji College of Advanced Education, now the Fiji national University’s College of Humanities and Education (CHE), graduating with a Diploma in Secondary Teaching majoring in Accounting and Economics in 2011.
She started teaching after that.
It was in 2017 that her husband Randhir Raj motivated her to undertake further studies and fulfill her dream.
“I had a keen interest in accounting from a young age and after encouragement from my husband, I decided to become a part-time student at FNU.
She enrolled in the Bachelor in Commerce program majoring in Accounting and Economics.
“To be honest, this was a challenge for me as I had to manage my work, family and studies at the same time.
“However, I was excited and determined to complete my degree.”
She said throughout her studies stories of others who had succeeded at FNU inspired her to also achieve the same.
Her efforts were rewarded when she received the Pherrus Pty (Fiji) Ltd prize for Best Student in Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) during the FNU’s December 2020 graduation.
“I was pursuing my dream of gaining qualifications in the field of accounting at a very flexible and conducive learning environment at FNU and one of my highlights was receiving A and A+ grades throughout my undergraduate course.
“I am humbled and proud of my achievements, and thank the support I have received from my lecturers and family.”
Ms Reddy was also awarded the TK Jayaraman and Family Annual Prize for Topper in Bachelor of Commerce (Economics).
This year, Reddy decided to enroll in the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting program.
Upon completion, she was given a special award and was recipient of the Office of the Auditor General (Fiji) Prize for Best Postgraduate Auditing Student.
Ms Reddy said the prize money she received from the three special awards and the guidance of her lecturers at FNU, led her to enroll in the Masters in Accounting programme, which she is currently undertaking.
“I credit my success to my husband, parents, siblings and the entire Reddy family. “It is always a privilege to know that you have people supporting you in your endeavors.”
Her advice to students is to “be honest in everything you do as this is one of the crucial work ethics and characteristics you will need as a student”.
