Freddy Tora, 30, has achieved remarkable success through hard work and determination. Growing up in Nailaga, Ba, he initially collected mussels from the Ba River for his family’s meals but has since transformed his life by completing rigorous training to serve as a sailor in the United States Navy.
After facing financial limitations following high school, Tora was motivated to change his circumstances. On September 26, he celebrated his graduation as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (ABM), a role focused on aircraft operations aboard naval vessels. He completed three months of basic training at the U.S. Naval Station in Great Lakes, North Chicago, Illinois.
His aspiration to join the Navy stems from a long-term goal of pursuing a career in medicine. Tora expressed gratitude for the guidance and strength he received during his journey. “It required three months of basic training that shaped me into a capable leader and sailor. The most challenging aspect was the mental preparation—developing a positive mindset was crucial,” he shared.
During his training, some exercises reminded him of home, particularly the swimming tests, which evoked memories of diving for mussels in the Ba River.
Tora is the second youngest of four siblings born to Maika Tora and Miriama Rokovui. He received his education at Ratu Rusiate Nabuta Memorial School and later attended Ba Methodist High School. In 2014, he took the Year 13 Examination again at Dilkusha Methodist High School to improve his grades.
He enrolled in the Fiji National University in 2016 to pursue a Bachelor of Human Resources Management but paused his studies due to financial hardships, as his mother was the family’s sole provider. To support himself, he ran a barber business and organized events for two years.
Tora eventually graduated from the University of the South Pacific in 2019 before relocating to the U.S. in 2022, where he settled in Kansas City. He attended Pratt Community College and obtained certification as a nursing assistant, subsequently working in a hospital for a year before moving to California in 2023.
He credits his mother, his family, and numerous individuals he encountered throughout his journey as sources of motivation. “They are why I have never given up,” Tora stated. He plans to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing to care for others, something he is passionate about.
Currently, Tora is in Florida attending aviation school, awaiting his next assignment in the Navy.