Jesoni

My journey was very challenging, but I saw the blessing of it. I was born and raised on the island of Fiji where we tend to eat whatever is put on the table—it’s part of my heritage. Then I joined the internship program with ‘Amanaki Fo’ou. I took it seriously because I felt like it was going to help me a lot, especially my future, and my future family. I applied all the principles to see what the outcome would be.

One success that I have accomplished so far is losing weight. I had always tried for the past few years, and it never happened. I used to eat anything, and I rarely exercised. But when I joined this program, I changed. Now I eat mostly fruits and vegetables, egg white, brown bread with peanut butter and banana, and chicken, and I play volleyball every day. Getting enough sleep can be hard as a student. But when I manage my time, have a plan, and set goals, I get to sleep on time and wake up on time. When I started with ‘Amanaki Fo’ou, I weighted 98.6 kg (217 lbs.), and today I weigh 74 kg (163 lbs.) Miracles do happen! I’m so happy! Joining this program helped me to realize who am I, what is my purpose in this life and what is my next step? I am more active than I was before, and I feel I can do more. I used to be a lazy person; now I feel like I can do anything! Taking this journey was very successful, and I can see that it will never stop. I always say to myself “till death do us part.”

Never give up. Never lose hope. This is your time. When you have a chance, take it, and make the most of it. Never let anyone put you down because you have the potential to change. You have the capability to think and see what the future can do for you. As Pacific Islanders, most of the time we tend to neglect that diabetes does exist. We think it is part and parcel of life. But it’s real. It can affect our individual lives and the lives of our families. We must take heed from medical professionals so that we will live long and be able to take care of our lives.

About `Amanaki Fo`ou

To help train the next generation for a diabetes-free future, ‘Amanaki Fo’ou currently has an internship program at BYU-Hawaii, where the student population includes many young people from the indigenous nations of the Pacific. There, interns work with our student mentors to learn about diabetes prevention, develop leadership skills, and promote community health.

If you’d like to learn more about our internship program, click here