WHEN University of the South Pacific graduate Maria Luisa Aperto crossed the stage with a Bachelor of Commerce, one person in the crowd mattered most: her 78-year-old grandmother, Lusiana Vanua, who travelled from Lautoka to see the moment.
For Aperto, the degree is more than a qualification in accounting and information systems—it is a thank-you letter to the woman she calls her “pillar of strength”, and a reminder to other young women that self-belief and family support can carry them through the hardest years.
Aperto said the journey to graduation was “quite exciting”, but it also demanded perseverance. Behind the late nights and exams, she credits her family—especially her grandmother—for steady encouragement.
“She’s been with me ever since then,” Aperto said.
“She has been like the backbone and the pillar of our family, keeping us together.”
While she dedicated the milestone to her grandmother, Aperto said it belongs to the whole family—her parents, too, and especially her late aunt.
“She would be like the first person to congratulate me in any achievement that I had ever gotten,” she said.
“So, this one is to my family.”
Asked what message she would give to young women and girls who feel they are “not enough”, Aperto did not hesitate:
“Never underestimate yourself,” she said.
“People will throw things at you. Life will give you a lot of challenges… but you need to keep going. Keep looking at the goal.”
She also spoke about staying grounded. Originally from Rotuma and brought up in Lautoka, Aperto said family has shaped how she measures success.
“You have to keep your family close,” she said.
“Plenty of girls or women… think that it’s the end of the world. But it’s not. You should take on the challenge.”
For Vanua, being there in person was a matter of faith and pride.
“Firstly, I would like to thank God for his guidance and protection over my granddaughter during her university journey,” she said.
Vanua described Aperto as someone who shows “respect and kindness towards her parents”—and she hopes other young people will do the same. “Learn to listen and respect your parents,” she said. “It will bring you to places and make your life better.”
