THE first day of the 2019 school year was a special one at Vishnu Deo Memorial School today.
For the many Year One students who entered the classroom for the first time, it marked the beginning of a long educational journey full of dreams and wonderful memories.
Sending her only child to Year One was effortless for Farisha Nair, 30, of Raiwai.
However, it was an emotional moment for the self-employed beautician.
“My daughter fitted in quite comfortably in class on her first day but for me, I felt a bit emotional,” Mrs Nair said.
“I wanted to be a flight attendant when growing up but I became a beautician. I want my daughter to do better than me and today marks the start of that long journey.”
For Jittu Estate resident Donna Vosalevu, taking her fourth child to Year One was an emotional moment because it marked her insatiable desire to have her children bail out of a life of struggle and poverty she faced.
“My daughter Asinate wants to become a nurse when she grows up. Her dreams are my dreams too and I have a responsibility to see that she realises them,” Mrs Vosalevu said.
She said dreams could turn out true for any child, even if they belonged to children of poor families from the squatters.
Grandmother Laisiana Raduva raised her two daughters on her own and today, she had the chance to accompany her granddaughter to school, the experience was “touching”.
“It was touching to see my granddaughter go to school for the first time in new uniforms. I only hope to live long enough to see her graduate and get a job,” Ms Raduva said.
Year One teacher Reshmi Muni said the first day at school was always a challenge for many first-timers.
“On the first day, many of them cry after their parents because this is the first time they feel separated from them,” Ms Muni said.
“My job is to comfort and console them so that they feel everything is going to be okay. Parents are encouraged to hang around outside for a few days to allow until their children to familiarise themselves with their new school environment and school family.”
