Joeli Yabaki, the parade commander at Naqere Youth Training Centre, reflects on how receiving the Baton of Honour has highlighted the importance of time management in his life. The 18-year-old from Nabouwalu, Bua, has been enrolled in the carpentry program at the training center in Savusavu.
He described the cadet passing-out parade for Fiji National Youth Training Centre students as an emotional and overwhelming event. The parade featured students from two Ministry of Youth training centers, Naleba in Labasa and Naqere in Savusavu, who participated in a joint ceremony yesterday.
From Naleba, 25 male and seven female cadets completed their training, while Naqere had 24 male and two female students graduate from the program. Yabaki noted that the seven-week training period fostered discipline and honesty among the participants, emphasizing their responsibilities as patriotic citizens.
“The training helped me grow as a person and make wise and timely judgments when leading the parade,” he commented. His family attended the event, and he expressed his thoughts on how today’s youth often engage in unproductive activities. He emphasized the need for young people to make wise use of their time by participating in meaningful pursuits.
As the overall best all-rounder, Yabaki advocates for the continuation of this cadet training on an annual basis to shape more students positively. He acknowledged that all cadets initially felt pressure to meet the expectations of their parents and teachers, but noted that their confidence bloomed with each successful drill.