Sarai is Leifiifi College’s top student

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 07 December 2017, 12:00AM

Sarai Kolio is the 2017 Dux for Leifiifi College.

The 16-year-old was announced the Dux and the top Art student at the E.F.K.S. Hall yesterday afternoon.

Friends and families were present at the ceremony to celebrate Miss Kolio’s success and achievement. 

Miss Kolio is the eldest child of Kolio and Nele Kolio Fitu Afoa’s three children. She has links to Fagalii, Nofoalii and Sapapalii, Savaii.

“It has been a very long and tough journey,” she said.

“I have been at Leifiifi from Year 9 and today I can finally say I did it.”

Miss Kolio draws motivation from his father when she goes through challenges. 

“There were times that I just wanted to give up but my dad is what kept me going.

“He is my motivation and it’s his dream, as well as mine, to become a lawyer and all my achievements today (yesterday) I dedicate to him and my mother.

“Ever since I was young, my father would tell me that hard work always pays off and today I have tasted the sweetness of hard work.

“All the sleepless nights have paid off and I just can’t thank God enough for being with me throughout my journey.

“Like the saying that goes ‘no pain, no gain’.”

Miss Kolio topped Geography, History and English in Year 13 and she was also announced the top Art student.

“It’s never easy to maintain top marks because there were a lot of competitions,” she said.

“But I tried my best because the thought of my parents and their hard work to keep me and my two younger brothers in school always stuck in my mind.

“And since I’m the eldest, I wanted to set a path for my younger brothers.

“I wanted them to know that a wise child always makes a parent proud and today I have definitely made my parents as well as my whole family proud.”

So what’s next for Miss Kolio?

“Well for now I’m just going to enjoy this moment with my parents and family,” she said.

“This is just the beginning and hopefully I will make it to U.P.Y. and be able to get a scholarship overseas.

“I am aiming to get a scholarship to Australia because they have the best universities for those who want to become lawyers.

“And I also have a lot of family members there so if the Lord wills it, I will get a scholarship and I won’t be homesick.

“That’s my dream but for me to get there I have to pass U.P.Y. Foundation.

“It all depends on me because I know that if I am able to top my college year, I’m confident that I can pass through another year at university.

“It is my utmost dream to fulfil my father’s dream and I pray that the Lord will guide me to that path.”

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 07 December 2017, 12:00AM
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