THE youngest of three siblings from Vunisinu in Rewa, Rokotavaga’s story is a testament to the power of endurance.
Last September, he stood tall at The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Laucala Campus graduation ceremony after attaining a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Politics).
His drive was forged in the challenges of his youth. Raised by a single mother, he often felt he didn’t fit into the “status quo” like his peers.
“I used to wonder what life would be like if I had both parents growing up, seeing my friends, whenever they would come with their parents,” he said.
“Eventually, I had to come to terms with it. It came to a point where I had to say I can’t miss something that I never had. I was grateful to mom and sister who helped make it feel like I didn’t miss out on not having a father.”
“I think being exposed to that kind of situation made me work harder for everything I wanted.”
During his high school years at Jai Narayan College in Suva, Rokotavaga received much-needed support from the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC Fiji).
“We received a new backpack, textbooks, exercise books, a uniform, and stationery. It really helped my mother financially and helped ease the burden,” he shared.
“That experience shaped my self-confidence because of the value FENC saw in me. It boosted my morale and put me on the same pedestal as my friends.”
In 2018, his hard work earned him a scholarship to the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra to study Actuarial Science. However, the dream soon met a difficult reality.
“Being in a different country among different people, I felt a disconnect. I started experiencing depression, but at the time I didn’t know what depression looked and felt like,” he shared.
“I sort therapy, and then decided to switch programmes. That was going well until 2020, when COVID hit, and the whole world was affected. A group of us international students had to be sent back home.”
“As soon as I came back to Fiji, again the depression set in. I felt that I didn’t complete what I set out to do at ANU. So, for seven to eight months, I was just sitting at home doing nothing.”
The road to recovery began with a change in perspective. Rokotavaga realised that comparison is the enemy of progress and that everybody moved at their own rate.
In the second semester of 2021, he enrolled at USP. He cross-credited his units from ANU and added Politics as a minor, a subject he had always been passionate about.
Four years after that difficult return, he has finally crossed the finish line.
His advice to students facing similar struggles is simple: practice self-reassurance.
“I give myself reassurance that what I have done in a day is the best that I can do. Tomorrow is another day with its worries and concerns,” he stressed.
“Now I can happily say that I am in counselling and I am working through it. The biggest part about healing is knowing that you are going through something.”
“Also, having a good support system is very important. It doesn’t matter the number of friends you can count, it’s the number of friends you can count on. When you have found those people, they will be your anchor.”
Applications for Semester 1, 2026 studies are Now Open.
New students can discover their study pathway and explore our internationally accredited programmes by visiting www.usp.ac.fj/apply.
Former students returning within three years can continue their studies via www.usp.ac.fj/resume
Success is rarely a straight line. For Ratu Manoa Rokotavaga, the last seven years have been a winding path marked by prestigious scholarships, a battle with depression, the disruptions of a global pandemic, and, ultimately, a triumphant return to his roots.
The youngest of three siblings from Vunisinu in Rewa, Rokotavaga’s story is a testament to the power of endurance.
Last September, he stood tall at The University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Laucala Campus graduation ceremony after attaining a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Politics).
His drive was forged in the challenges of his youth. Raised by a single mother, he often felt he didn’t fit into the “status quo” like his peers.
“I used to wonder what life would be like if I had both parents growing up, seeing my friends, whenever they would come with their parents,” he said.
“Eventually, I had to come to terms with it. It came to a point where I had to say I can’t miss something that I never had. I was grateful to mom and sister who helped make it feel like I didn’t miss out on not having a father.”
“I think being exposed to that kind of situation made me work harder for everything I wanted.”
During his high school years at Jai Narayan College in Suva, Rokotavaga received much-needed support from the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC Fiji).
“We received a new backpack, textbooks, exercise books, a uniform, and stationery. It really helped my mother financially and helped ease the burden,” he shared.
“That experience shaped my self-confidence because of the value FENC saw in me. It boosted my morale and put me on the same pedestal as my friends.”
In 2018, his hard work earned him a scholarship to the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra to study Actuarial Science. However, the dream soon met a difficult reality.
“Being in a different country among different people, I felt a disconnect. I started experiencing depression, but at the time I didn’t know what depression looked and felt like,” he shared.
“I sort therapy, and then decided to switch programmes. That was going well until 2020, when COVID hit, and the whole world was affected. A group of us international students had to be sent back home.”
“As soon as I came back to Fiji, again the depression set in. I felt that I didn’t complete what I set out to do at ANU. So, for seven to eight months, I was just sitting at home doing nothing.”
The road to recovery began with a change in perspective. Rokotavaga realised that comparison is the enemy of progress and that everybody moved at their own rate.
In the second semester of 2021, he enrolled at USP. He cross-credited his units from ANU and added Politics as a minor, a subject he had always been passionate about.
Four years after that difficult return, he has finally crossed the finish line.
His advice to students facing similar struggles is simple: practice self-reassurance.
“I give myself reassurance that what I have done in a day is the best that I can do. Tomorrow is another day with its worries and concerns,” he stressed.
“Now I can happily say that I am in counselling and I am working through it. The biggest part about healing is knowing that you are going through something.”
“Also, having a good support system is very important. It doesn’t matter the number of friends you can count, it’s the number of friends you can count on. When you have found those people, they will be your anchor.”
Applications for Semester 1, 2026 studies are Now Open.
New students can discover their study pathway and explore our internationally accredited programmes by visiting www.usp.ac.fj/apply.
Former students returning within three years can continue their studies via www.usp.ac.fj/resume