I jokingly said that Samoa College was the first time I heard boys swearing at girls as a greeting instead of "good morning". It was also one of my best years in high school. Coming from an all-girls school, St Mary's Savalalo and St Mary's College to a co-ed school was a culture shock for me. I was given two options by my parents for Form 6, Robert Louis or Samoa College. This was before the Form 6 class was introduced to St Mary's College. That was 23 years ago, has it been that long?

Samoa College was established to mark the beginning of a new era by the government in 1953. Its sole purpose was to educate future leaders of Samoa before independence. The leaders were visionary in this because, after 70 years, alumni are members of parliament, heads of regional organizations, CEOs of government ministries, pioneers in the fields of science, art, leadership and many others.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio in his guest speech said, "The legacy of Samoa College is not limited in buildings but lives on in its alumni". I agree. Atamai e tautua mo Samoa. Wisdom to serve Samoa, not intelligence to serve, wisdom. Wisdom has its spiritual connotations, intelligence does not. A iai le poto ae leai se fa'autauta, e leai se aoga.

My husband, a Marist and St Joseph's man said that his school was better. It's the competitive spirit. My reply "I pledge allegiance to all schools that educated me, but my loyalty lies with my parents who paid all those school fees and made sure that I was on the road to success". It doesn't matter what school our children go to because success is up to the individual. It doesn't matter how flash or basic the school building is but if the teachers don't do their jobs, that will be reflected in the students.

As I sat in the church service marking the 70th anniversary of Samoa College and saw my classmates from many moons ago, smiling from ear to ear, I was reminded that every single student deserved recognition after years of studying. Whatever that may look like for us and our families who prayed for us, cried with us and encouraged us throughout our education journey. I feel the same pride when I see my SMOGA peers reminiscing about the old times at school. I also feel the same pride when I think of my New Zealand school and the many universities that I am an alumnus of.

Samoa has come this far. If we produce nothing else from school but critical thinkers and solution-finders, education has achieved its purpose. Happy 70th Anniversary to my beloved Samoa College and may our school halls continue to fill with light illuminating the path to success for all future generations. Manuia le Sāpati Samoa!

• Enid Westerlund is an aviation specialist, business consultant and author and loves to share stories and write children’s books.