At 15-years-old, Shammah Miracle Faiva is the head boy of Itu o Tane College. The Year 12 student aspires to become a doctor and fulfil a dream his grandfather and father once had.

On Wednesday, he walked away with the first prize in the Year 12 Samoan category of the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. 

This dream became very clear after he heard stories from his parents that his grandfather wanted to become a doctor but was unable. His father used to be a nurse and now is a church minister. 

The young man from Samalaeulu is firm in his decision to become a doctor. He believes that he will be the one to pursue his grandfather and father's dreams. He also believes in helping people and sees this as a way to provide service for Samoa. 

"My story was based on a true story. It was something that happened to me. As I write this, and analysing the theme of the competition which is My Future - Lo'u Lumanai, I thought to myself "Why not write about me and my aspirations?" So I did," he said.

"When I was in primary school, I prioritised education. It's been eight to nine months since I have lived away from my parents. My parents are church ministers at Samalaeulu. But they left to find treatments for my father's illness. 

"Being away from them is very difficult. I am staying with one of the families of our church, and it's not the same as how my parents treat and love me. They do everything for me but it's just not the same."

Shammah remembered the time he was writing his story for the competition. He said he cried looking and remembering his life with his parents. Despite being treated well, he still missed his parents. He sometimes cries himself to sleep. 

"I miss the love of parents. I miss their encouragement for me every day. As I prepare for my SSLC exams, I only look for them to give me hope and strength. But my aim remains as I want to become a doctor. Long story short about my dream, my grandpa was very sick. So my dad, wanted to become a doctor so he could help him recover. Unfortunately, he passed on before my dad succeeded.

"When I heard this, it was like a burning fire in me to become a doctor. When I was in Year 8, my father suffered a stroke which led to his one side being paralysed. My father was slowly recovering until this year when he got diabetes and had to amputate his leg. This has cemented my dream of being a doctor and I am ready to pursue it no matter what comes my way."

Their principal, Allie Faletolu said he continues to push his students to dream big and make sure they reach them. He is very proud of how far his students have come in this competition. He said the school has always won six to seven prizes in some years. And this year was no different.