At the age of 72, Divendra Prasad Sharma has proudly earned a Certificate IV in counseling, achieving a long-held dream that had been years in the making. His achievement, celebrated at the University of the South Pacific’s graduation ceremony, symbolizes a journey marked by perseverance.
Sharma, the eldest of nine siblings in a financially struggling family, had to pause his educational aspirations after completing Form 6. Instead, he dedicated himself to caring for his siblings and supporting his family. Despite these challenges, the desire to pursue higher education never faded.
For years, Sharma juggled multiple jobs, from his early employment at Vinod Patel to driving buses and eventually owning a successful taxi business. Throughout this time, he remained hopeful about continuing his education.
The inspiration to pursue his studies was reinforced by his daughter, who is now a lecturer at USP. Observing her and others seizing educational opportunities motivated Sharma to believe that he still had time to achieve his ambition. “Success comes with change,” he remarked, holding onto the hope that studying at USP was within reach.
Earlier this year, during USP’s orientation week at the Laucala Campus, the dynamic university environment encouraged Sharma to enroll in the USP Pacific Technical and Further Education program. He fully committed to his studies, finding the experience enjoyable since it aligned with his passion.
“Doing it with your heart makes challenges easier,” he explained. His accomplishment serves as a beacon of inspiration not only for younger generations but also for others his age who may have abandoned their dreams.
“There are many people who have the chance to study but don’t take it. I wanted to bring a change. If not yesterday, then today,” he stated.
Sharma’s advice is straightforward yet impactful: “Education is everything. Try, and you can do anything.” He adds that for those in his age group, “It’s just a matter of priorities. You can do anything, no matter your age.”
Having fulfilled his aspiration with the completion of his certificate, Sharma has no additional academic goals. For him, this milestone marks the conclusion of a journey that demonstrates the notion that it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams.