I was born in India to parents who lived in Fiji. My sister and brother were born in Fiji. We came here when I was one to a little town called Nelson. We were the first Fijian family there. I’m a fifth-generation educator. My grandfather started schools in Fiji and actually helped the country advance in literacy. I identify as being Canadian in my very inner self, but, I always feel like an outsider in both the Canadian and the Indian community. When we grew up, there were so few immigrants of colour. Growing up here I felt that it wasn’t a desirable thing to be brown.

I believe I was the first, and still one of the only South Asian female principals in Delta. I was charged with the responsibility of starting the traditional schools. This was difficult because I don’t believe in traditional education. It failed me and it has failed a lot of kids. I’m proud that the three traditional schools in Delta are built on my belief structure, which is to instil traditional values and manners while actually using the very latest in educational approaches to teach children and invite them into their learning, to gear learning to them.

“Himmat” to me means you don’t give up on your dreams, no matter what gets in your way. And sometimes the things that get thrown in your way are so insurmountable that it seems that the world is conspiring against you, to say no, no, no. Not you. Not now. Not this. And you just have to keep on going and celebrating every success. I used to make fairy tale movie, with my students. I loved acting, but I turned it off for myself when I was still a child. About eight years ago, I began doing improv classes. This led me to embrace my creative side again, and since then, I have realized a dream of becoming a screenwriter, actor, and director. My first short film was shown recently at the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival.

During the last four years, life has taken some challenging turns. One of the things I learned in rehab while recovering from long-term injuries to my back and my head, was gratitude. I am literally right now trying to wake up every morning and write down what I’m grateful for. I’m building on the gratitude and not focusing on the pain or limitations or anything that holds me back. Instead, I’m choosing to always move forward.