There was nothing that could contain the joy of Moevao Hugo Fata and her family as she was named Sagaga College’s 2016 Dux.

Hailing from the village of Afega and Leauva’a, Moevao says that although the academic year was a tough one, she knuckled down with the guide of her parents and did her best to achieve that number one spot.

Moevao says that her teachers did a wonderful job and that is why she will work hard to one day pass on that knowledge as a teacher herself. And just like many other Samoan children, studies aren’t complete without a few smacks here and there from the parents.

“Sometimes my mom would smack me because she wanted me to study hard,” she told the Sunday Samoan.

“So all of those beatings really made me what I am today and I am grateful. I am ready for what my future has install for me and I am excited about it."

“I want to be a teacher in the future so I can pass on the knowledge that my teachers passed to me.”

Moevao says that she could not describe how happy she feels with what she achieved but she knows that she would be nowhere without the help of God.

“I feel very happy today,” she said. “All the glory belongs to the heavenly father for all his help while I was studying to get to where I am now. Every time I needed help, God was always there for me and for that, I will be forever grateful."

“But for now, I don’t know how to explain the joy that I feel in my heart.” Moevao dedicated her prize to her parents and God who helped her through the year with her schooling. “I dedicate this achievement to God and to my parents,” she said. “My parents have worked really hard to get me this far in life and I owe it all to them. That’s one of my motivations to study hard, the struggles my parents underwent."

“But I am happy to be able to make them proud today.”

Furthermore, Moevao admits that it wasn’t easy to get to where she is now. “If I could describe my journey at Sagaga with one word, I would say that it was ‘tough’,” she said. “There were times when I couldn’t get through some struggling times but thankfully my teachers were there for me. I owe a lot to the teaching staff and my friends for always pushing me to work hard." “I want to say thank you.”

Moevao is the fourth child of six children and topped English, math’s, computer studies, economics, accounting and Christian education.