16-year-old dedicates success to parents

By Sarafina Sanerivi 09 January 2017, 12:00AM

We all need inspiration at different points in our lives. It helps us get through the day, rough times and it pushes us to achieve great things. 

Inspiration can be drawn from many sources but for Taputū Palemia Reupena, her inspiration is drawn from her parents, her first two teachers. 

The 16-year-old is the youngest of Reverend Palemia and Tovale Reupena’s three children. 

Taputū was amongst the 66 Foundation students from N.U.S who were awarded a scholarship to study overseas. 

Unfortunately, because Taputū is only 16, she can’t take up the scholarship this year tis year but that is not stopping this young achiever. 

Taputū said she is thinking of taking law papers at the University of the South Pacific at Alafua while waiting until she turns 18, so she can go on to New Zealand. However a future career is still too far ahead and something she is not yet sure of.  

“I want to study Political Science. I am not sure if I want to be a lawyer.”

Taputū is from the villages of Lepa, Fusi Safotulafai, Vailele-Uta and Samalaeulu Savaii where her parents are serving as church ministers. 

In an interview with the Weekend Observer, the 16-year-old said she was ecstatic.

 “I feel very privileged and honored to be one of the fortunate students to get scholarships,” she said, “because I know a lot of students have been studying so hard to get a scholarship so I feel very happy to be one of them.”

“This was something I’ve always wanted ever since I was young. 

“I’ve always wanted to go away on a scholarship. I have relatives who were fortunate to get scholarships and I am very happy to have this opportunity too.”

“My parents are my main inspiration,” she repeated.

“My dad is a church minister in Savaii, and so all those boat rides from Savaii are now worth it.

“I’ve been staying here for school and my parents would come here from Savaii to be with me.

“They sacrificed so much of their time for me, they would try and come every week to stay with me. “They’ve inspired me to work hard and strive hard and I dedicate this success to my parents.”

In conclusion, she said she wanted to also thank her family and friends for the support and prayers. 

By Sarafina Sanerivi 09 January 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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