Samoan Education Minister overcomes challenges to graduate
Success is the result of hard work. Samoa’s Minister of Education Sports and Culture, Loau Kineti Sio, knows this. He was part of the 18 Samoan Parliamentarians who graduated with a Certificate in Civil Law from the University of the South Pacific last Thursday as part of the university’s 50th anniversary celebration.
According to the Minister, challenges associated with his duty to the government and the people of Samoa, his family and preparations for the Pacific Games in 2019, did not deter him from trying to complete his studies.
The journey was never easy for him; going again to school after 30 years ago is a story of a lifetime. It did not stop him because his passion and hunger for knowledge was greater than his fears.
“I think that this had to be done a long time ago. I am so grateful to have this moment in life. I guess the reason I got into school again was because I wanted to have something in life. “Even though I am a Minister and also being a parliamentarian graduate, the way I look at it, through my education, I will still feel that there is something missing. So when the opportunity came up, I thought to myself that I would go try it out and get myself that piece of paper,” he said.
It was a two-year course, but they did it in one year, which was not easy for any of them. He said the secret to making it throughout the two semesters is to pray hard and ask God for strength.
“It has been 30 years out of school not having to do anymore assignments and getting back to writing 600 words essay is not easy.” “Even though I know that I am quite busy with my schedule and the work that I do. I would always hear that voice in me that I have to do it. That instinct which is challenging and I have got a big heart.”