I grew up in a broken home. From a young age, I had to take care of myself. There was no one to lean on—no safety net. Life felt like a battle I had to fight alone. In high school, I turned to alcohol and smoking. They became my escape, the only comfort I knew.
To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, February 7.
As told to Maika Tuima by Sera Wilson
My name is Sera, and I am from the beautiful islands of Fiji. I’m a second-year education student at Fulton Adventist University College. My journey here has been anything but easy.
I grew up in a broken home. From a young age, I had to take care of myself. There was no one to lean on—no safety net. Life felt like a battle I had to fight alone. In high school, I turned to alcohol and smoking. They became my escape, the only comfort I knew.
I fell into the same routine week after week: work, get paid, and spend all my money on things that only hurt me. I was stuck in a cycle that felt impossible to break.
My first wake-up call came when I got mugged while drunk. But even that didn’t stop me. I kept going back to the same destructive habits.
Then came the car crash.
That night changed everything. I could have died. Deep down, I knew my survival wasn’t luck. The accident had been a warning to save me.
That was in 2018, when I came to Fulton College to study business. But I couldn’t handle what I thought were the strange beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists. I argued with my teachers. Eventually, I ran away. I thought going back to my old life would be easier.
But after the crash, I sank into depression. Guilt and suicidal thoughts engulfed me.
And yet, even in that darkness, there was still a small voice, a whisper: “You’re going to be okay.” I didn’t know it then, but now I believe it was the Holy Spirit.
I wasn’t reading my Bible or going to church, but I never stopped praying. Prayer was the only thing I had left. It was the one belief I carried from childhood—that God was listening.
My aunt and uncle, both Adventists, had always tried to show me God’s light. When I was younger, they would invite us to the old Fulton College campus for the holidays. They never forced us—just gently encouraged us to explore God’s Word for ourselves.
Looking back, they were a big part of my journey. They planted the seed.
At first, I resisted. My heart was hard. People used to call me “anti-Adventist.” I remember saying, “Where in the Bible does it say the Sabbath is on Saturday?” I couldn’t accept it.
But slowly, through Bible studies, things started to make sense. One day, a pastor asked, “Do you know anything about the second coming of Jesus?” That question shook me. It was the turning point. I started to see everything differently.
Returning to Fulton College was nothing short of a miracle. I had no plan, no money, and no idea of how I would pay my school fees. I just said, “God, I want to go back to school.”
The day before I returned, my sister and her husband offered to pay my fees. They said, “You don’t need to pay us back. We just want to help you get started.”
God opened doors.
Over time, He provided for my studies, gave me leadership opportunities, and brought people into my life who guided me toward truth.
And the biggest miracle? I got baptized. I chose to follow God—not because someone forced me, but because I found the truth for myself.
It hasn’t been easy. Spiritual life can be harder than the life I left behind. But it’s worth it.
Before, I thought the world could give me peace. But now I know only God can satisfy the heart’s deepest needs.
Today, I read my Bible more than ever, take prayer seriously, and try to share my story with other students, especially those who don’t know about God’s love.
Fulton College is more than a school. It’s a place where students like me can find truth, healing, and purpose. Here, we’re not only preparing for careers but also for eternity.
If I could share one message, it would be this: Never give up on God.
Even if you fall or lose your way, get up. Keep walking in the direction God wants you to go.
He never gave up on me.
And He won’t give up on you either.
Part of the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering for the fourth quarter of 2009 helped build the new campus of the Fulton Adventist University College. Thank you for your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter which will support children’s health projects in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
