ELODIE Matua is far from home but she’s determined to get back to Vanuatu and help save lives as a member of the country’s medical service.
As a Francophone students, Elodie has faced language challenges, distance, culture shock and homesickness, and loneliness.
Now the holder of a Bachelor of Medical Health Science from the University of Fiji, the 22-year-old has set her sights on becoming a doctor and completing the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science – MBBS.
“My plan is to graduate MBBS and become a doctor so I can go back to my country and contribute to my country and for my family,’’ she said.
“I want to go back home and help my country and save lives.
”For regional students like Elodie, the struggles were often quite real.
“First it was tough, I had homesick,” Elodie admitted.
“There are so many challenges as a regional student—homesick, cultural shock, and also language barriers, mainly Hindi.”
Coming from Vanuatu as a Francophone student, Elodie found herself in an English-speaking academic world.
“Back in Vanuatu, I’m a Francophone student. Coming here to UniFiji, everything is in English. It was tough, but everything is okay—it’s good.”
What helped her survive? Friendship.“I have great friends, and also some people here in Fiji, they are so good to me and they make me feel like home.”
As the new graduates like Elodie prepare to step into their careers or further studies, UniFiji Vice Chancellor, Professor Shaista Shameem, had this advice: “Think about where you want to be in 10 years’ time and work hard to get there. Figure out how to make the world a better place for everyone. Cause no harm to others.”
The University expressed strong confidence in the impact this graduating class will have, describing them as nation builders with a global outlook.
“Our graduates are nation builders and also global ready,” Shameem said, highlighting their potential to contribute meaningfully to Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
Looking ahead, stakeholders can expect significant developments. The University is not taking a backward step.
“We are reviewing our strategy for the next five years to move from resilience to renaissance,” Shameem said.
It’s an ambitious goal, but if today—and graduates like Elodie—are anything to go by, they’re well on the way there.
