Through hard work and determination, Freddy Tora, 30, has accomplished incredible feats he once believed were beyond his reach. Hailing from Nailaga in Ba and linked to Visama, Nakelo, and Tailevu, Tora transitioned from diving for mussels in the Ba River for his family’s meals to enduring the rigorous training of a United States Navy sailor.
After completing high school, Tora faced financial hurdles that hindered his ambitions for further education. However, he remained resolute in his quest for independence. On September 26, he proudly graduated as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (ABM), a role focused on aircraft operations.
Tora completed a demanding three-month boot camp at the U.S. Naval Station in Great Lakes, Illinois, where he built a foundation in leadership and military training. Motivated by a long-term goal of pursuing a medical career, he expressed deep gratitude for the strength and provisions he received throughout his journey.
His training experience brought back memories of his childhood home, especially during the swimming tests, which echoed his days of diving in the Ba River. As the second youngest in a family of four, Tora grew up in Ba, attending Ratu Rusiate Nabuta Memorial School for his early education before continuing at Ba Methodist High School.
In 2014, he repeated Year 13 at Dilkusha Methodist High School to improve his grades, then enrolled at Fiji National University to study for a Bachelor in Human Resources Management. Due to financial challenges, he paused his education to support his family.
For two years, he operated his own barber business and handled event planning. In 2019, he achieved his degree from the University of the South Pacific, after which he relocated to the U.S. in 2022. Initially settling in Kansas City, he attended Pratt Community College, obtained a certified nursing assistant license, and gained experience working at a hospital for a year before moving to California in 2023.
Tora credits his mother and family, along with supportive individuals in the U.S., as his motivation to persevere. Looking ahead, he plans to enroll in a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing program to fulfill his passion for caring for others. He has now moved to Florida for his Aviation School, eagerly awaiting his next assignment.