AT the University of the South Pacific’s graduation, an MBA graduate who flies for Fiji Airways and a young Commerce graduate reminded the crowd that success is rarely a solo journey.
On a day of mortarboards, leis and camera flashes, two voices stood out among the graduands celebrating at the University of the South Pacific (USP): Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate and Session One graduand speaker Gideon Leweniqila, and Bachelor of Commerce graduand Adi Finau Adimailomaloma.
Their messages differed in detail but were identical in spirit—gratitude for those who carried them and a determination to use their education in the service of others.
Leweniqila, who said he comes from the village of Drekeniwai Navatu in the province of Cakaudrove, described graduating as a milestone not only for him, but for everyone who kept him going through the demands of study, work and family life.
“In the midst of doing this course for two years, they were the very ones who carried us on so many challenges,” he said, referring to family and friends.
“For me, they are the ones that actually deserve the recognition along with us.”
Beyond celebration, his appeal to fellow graduates was simple: return home and contribute.
“Not only your wealth,” he told them, “but your intellect” for the development of their communities and nations.
The applause for his speech was followed by another reality check: Leweniqila is also a pilot, and he described the profession as “very, very demanding”—a job where there is rarely a predictable 8am-5pm routine.
Balancing flights, meetings and assessments meant constant negotiation, he said—sometimes being rostered for duty while facing a mid-semester exam.
He credited USP for strengthening his communication and problem-solving skills, which helped him “diplomatically liaise” with a highly regimented workplace to find practical pathways to complete his studies.
He also used the moment to acknowledge those who made the juggling act possible: his family at home and colleagues at work.
Leweniqila thanked his wife, Amelia, and his children, and expressed appreciation to the senior captains and fellow pilots, who he said stepped in to take on extra duties so he could meet deadlines and even took over a scheduled flight so he could attend graduation.
His final words returned to identity and responsibility. “Please remember the Pacific,” he said.
In uncertain times, he urged graduates to remember where they come from, to stay grounded in family, and to give back—especially through knowledge and leadership.
“From Tonga, from all the Pacific Islands—remember where you come from,” he added. “Always remember to give back, not only your wealth, but your intellect.”
“Nothing is impossible”: Adi Finau Adimailomaloma’s road to a Commerce degree
Nearby, Bachelor of Commerce graduand Adi Finau Adimailomaloma described her qualification as a hard-won achievement—one that required persistence through personal and financial challenges.
When asked about the struggles behind her success, Adimailomaloma spoke about the weight of responsibility she carried while trying to stay in school.
She said there were times when money was tight and continuing her studies felt uncertain, but she refused to let those moments define the outcome.
She said graduation was proof that the lessons learned along the way mattered as much as the certificate itself—especially the confidence to keep showing up, even when progress felt slow.
Her advice to others who may be facing similar obstacles was straightforward: don’t give up.
“Nothing is impossible,” she said.
“Always have faith and trust in God.”
Together, Leweniqila and Adimailomaloma offered a reminder that the graduation stage is not the finish line, but a handover point—where sacrifice becomes possibility, and qualifications become tools.
For one, the next shift may be back in the cockpit; for the other, the next step may be the first job opportunity. But both left the same message hanging in the air for the newest alumni: remember who helped you, remember where you come from, and use what you have learned to lift others.
