GCC World,July 2007

Even then, there was apart of her leaning towards the environment that perhaps played a big role in pushing her to social activities. “I cannot say the exact reasons but I could see the marked changes taking place in Fiji with the opening of the country to foreign investors,” she acknowledges. Obviously this had a great impact on her career aspirations. She has done a course in environmental law at the Fiji Medical College though that did not hold for long. Both her parents are into business and they felt having someone with academic grounding in business would help. “Since no one in the family had done a degree in business, when the idea was put to me, I jumped to the offer.” According to Torika, this is the best decision she ever made in life. “After my BBM degree, I am looking forward to further studies, may be an MBA or Tourism degree to cap a memorable stint.”

“Living and studying in India has helped me shape into a mature and responsible person,” she reflects. “The educational journey opened my eyes to whole new experience that words fail to describe.” Torika, like many of the overseas students contend the early phase – leaving the comforts of your home country and settling in another country -perhaps is the most difficult period. Also the challenge of coping with spicy food for one used to blunt food back home. Today, she is very much at home with the food. “It will be a struggle to get back to traditional Fijian cuisines,” she laughs.

Aside, she is pleased with the leadership responsibilities that brought her face to face with various challenges that made her a complete person. “There was a lot to learn besides putting into practice the concepts picked in lecture halls,” she reflects. As the General Secretary of FISA-B and the President of the International Students' Association at her college, she treasures all that she learnt- interactions with people from diverse nationalities, the thrill of living in a city like Bangalore, and yes, the hospitality that Garden City College accords international students irrespective of their colleges. “Gardenia International is a great occasion to look forward to,” she adds.

And so as the youngster awaits her results, the short break in the interim will be like a pit stop in formula one racing. Soon, she will be able to take the dreams of her parent's notches higher with the master's degree. Whatever she opts to do, Torika has surely added some verve to all those who got a chance to interact with her.