You’ve missed the bus.
These words are commonly used throughout Fiji.
Often the words are uttered to describe situations where people are deemed too slow to react and in doing so missed out on life or work opportunities.
Farasiko Saunivalu was determined to prove everyone wrong when he opted to return to high school in 1987 at 30 years of age.
That was on the same day his eldest son began school.
And just a bit more of a twist, Farasiko’s wife was his teacher.
“I worked casually in a lot of places in Fiji,” the 65-year-old said.
“One day, I decided that I would go back to school.
“I went as far as Form Four when I was a teenager and it was always in my heart to complete my studies.
“So I started form five when I was 30-years-old when my oldest child was in Class One in the year 1987 during the first coup.”
Farasiko said his return to the classroom was an uncomfortable experience because his wife became his teacher.
“She was my teacher at Namosi Secondary School. On my first day of school, I went with my son. He was excited to start school, but I was very nervous.
“When I came to the classroom it was nerve-wrecking and as soon as I saw my wife, I immediately put my head down.”
Farasiko said he was embarrassed at first but his determination to complete his secondary education outweighed his discomfort.
“After a few weeks of being in the classroom, having my wife as my teacher became normal. I started to bury myself in my studies but I also made sure I fulfilled my role as a father at home.”
After two years, he completed what he set out to do.
Mr Saunivalu got back into village life.
However, life had another surprise in store for him.
While returning from collecting firewood one day, he saw that he had a visitor.
“The principal of Namosi Secondary School asked if I wanted to become a teacher.
“I told him that I didn’t apply for the position and he cut me short and asked me to answer his question. So I said yes.”
Farasiko said he was told to immediately get on a truck that was bound for Corpus Christi Teachers College in Suva.
“I was unsure of what was happening but decided that I was not going to miss this opportunity.
“With my dirty clothes from collecting firewood, I entered the school which was full of students. The principal went with me to meet the dean.
“The dean came, saw me with my clothes right from the village. I was so embarrassed but to my surprise he told me to start the week after. My first year in tertiary was in 1989 and I graduated in 1991.”
Mr Saunivalu’s teaching career spanned 20 years.
He taught at Navunikabi in Namosi, Wairiki in Taveuni then at Arya Samaj before finishing off at Marist Brothers Primary School.
He retired in 2012 when he was 55.
“It’s never too late to start anything. If you think you’ve missed the bus, think again. All you need is determination and a willingness to achieve your goal.”
