Embarking on an academic journey is no small feat, especially when balancing family demands, a full-time job, and educational responsibilities.
For many students at The University of the South Pacific (USP), the road to success is paved with challenges, but these obstacles often become stepping stones to personal growth. This testament rings true for Jacinta Butafa, the Head of ICT Corporate Services for the Solomon Islands Government.
Butafa, who pursued her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at USP in Solomon Islands, is now returning for her Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
Sharing an insight into her academic aspiration, Butafa said, “One of the biggest hurdles for students juggling multiple responsibilities is family expectations. The desire to excel academically while fulfilling family commitments can pull you in different directions, demanding time, energy, and focus”.
She added that time management can be a formidable challenge when balancing a full-time job with academic obligations as the two often compete for attention. Hence, staying organised becomes essential to ensure neither gets neglected.
Despite her difficulties, she successfully pushes through and navigates her competing responsibilities through perseverance.
“Open communication is key when dealing with family expectations, especially when discussing academic priorities and involving family members in understanding the significance of education, and they can become your strongest support system.”
Butafa also highlighted that creating schedules that balance family obligations with study time is critical in maintaining focus and achieving goals.
Managing multiple responsibilities, Butafa said she had to set clear priorities and break larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps to effectively keep up with her school work and ensure steady progress.
“Most importantly, avoiding procrastination was vital for keeping up with the fast-paced nature of my academic work,” she shared. Butafa also emphasised that no journey is undertaken alone and highlighted that having a solid support system that offers emotional and, at times, financial support is important.
With USP ready to open its new campus with state-of-the-art facilities in the Solomon Islands on 3 October 2024, Butafa stressed the significance of the new campus in providing access to education by bringing most USP services to the people. Most importantly, how fortunate current and future students are in having all new facilities, equipment and resources that weren’t available during her undergraduate studies.
Butafa added that it is critical for students to know that “Education isn’t just about passing exams; it’s about empowering yourself for life. Make the most of every opportunity to engage with your coursework and utilise the resources you are provided, as it will shape your academic journey and prepare you for the future.”
Butafa is ready to start her MBA journey with the Solomon Islands cohort next year.
