“Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.”

These words by Brian Dyson motivated a young mother of three from Leauva’a, Catherine Nansen-Talamoni, who was yesterday named Tesese’s 2016 Dux. Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Mrs. Talamoni said she is very humbled by the honour.

 “The journey was very hard especially when you are a mother,” she said. “You have your children and husband that you need to be with and then you have your work and then you have your studies.

“I had to sacrifice a lot of my time but I wouldn’t be able to do it without the help of my family especially my husband and my children.”

Mrs. Talamoni said one of the biggest challenges she faced was finances.

“That is the biggest challenge is finding the money to pay for not only mine but also my other colleagues studies,” she said.

“But thanks to Superintendent Peter Timson of the Australian Federal Police for kindly assisting us with our school fees.

“Not only that but also my family from both my mother and father’s side but also my husband’s family.”

Asked what the next step is she said she wants to continue studying.

“I still want to pursue studying,” she said. “I want to get another qualification and go higher than what I have achieved today because education has no limit and I believe that “Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying”.

The proud mother went on to say that her achievements go to her family and especially her late father John Nansen. Mrs. Talamoni was the only student who took nine courses and passes them all.

She is also the top student in International Examinations conducted by the Commercial Education Society of Australia.

She is the daughter of Telesia Ah Kau and the late John Nanses.

She is from the village of Leauvaa and is married to Michael Tlamoni and they have three children.