Photo By Senior Airman Joseph Barron | U.S. Air Force Maj. Triven Pillai stands with the finance office at RAF Mildenhall,...... read more read more
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Thousands of miles of vast ocean separate the tiny Fiji islands from the United States. This distance, however, wasn’t enough to stop Maj. Triven Pillai from emigrating to America and working his way up to his current position as 100th Comptroller Squadron Commander at RAF Mildenhall.
Pillai grew up on the Fiji Islands, a former British colony with an estimated population of almost 900,000. Although he had fond memories of his childhood, the country he grew up in had few opportunities and amenities available to him. When Pillai’s parents decided to leave the country in 1998, they still did not have cellphones or computers.
“My parents’ motivation behind leaving was to find a better life for their kids. They wanted their children to have the option to have a better future,” said Pillai.
His parents’ belief that their children would have better opportunities in America proved to be correct. After graduating high school, Pillai attended Green River Community College and then transferred to Washington State University where he studied animal science, agricultural economics and soil science. While in college, he worked multiple jobs to support himself.
“I worked 40 or more hours per week through my whole college life. I sometimes had three or four jobs at one time,” Pillai remembered.
While working and going to school simultaneously, the future 100th Comptroller Squadron commander also operated his own business raising livestock. His business eventually grew to over 300 goats and several pieces of farm equipment.
“I had to have effective time management while in college. I knew my priorities and I had to make sacrifices,” said Pillai. “I never went to a single football game, but I was learning about the care of individuals and the importance of responsibility through my business.”
While running his own business and attending college full-time, Pillai frequently struggled to find time to accomplish everything, despite only getting around four hours of sleep per night. It was a demanding lifestyle that Pillai sustained over several years.
“I got used to functioning with little sleep. I knew I had goals to reach and not enough time,” Pillai said.
What kept him pushing forward was his steadfast refusal to quit, despite his demanding schedule and the responsibility he had taken on. He knew that his work ethic would pay off in the future, and he was right. He eventually graduated debt-free from Washington State with three degrees and a profitable business.
“The biggest thing I learned during that time is that hard work pays dividends. I kept working when it was hard and never accepted defeat,” Pillai stated.
While in college, Pillai frequently saw ROTC candidates walking around campus in uniform. These repeated encounters planted a seed in his mind that would sprout in the aftermath of 9/11. Maj Pillai decided in 2002 to serve the country that had afforded him and his family many great opportunities.
His experiences as the sole operator of his business in combination with his college degrees in science and economics enabled him to commission as a finance officer in the Air Force. Pillai left his business, family and college behind in Washington to join the Air Force. There were certain things, however, he kept with him as he transitioned to a life in the military. He kept his positive attitude and the experiences he gained from balancing classes, work and his business.
“I am less stressed out about the challenges I face because I have withstood so much. I never quit,” Pillai remarked. “I now understand that your thoughts shape your reality and allow yourself to dream big.”
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2019 09:13 |
| Story ID: | 330456 |
| Location: | RAF MILDENHALL, SUFFOLK, GB |
| Web Views: | 220 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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