Tauvelamasei Tuimaualuga of Tufutafoe and Vaisala is the Papauta Girls College's top student after excelling in five subjects as part of this year's academic assessment. 

She graduated from the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa run educational institution on Monday and dedicated her academic achievements to both her parents who also witnessed the prize-giving ceremony in the school hall.

Tuimaualuga Makelani, Tauvela’s father said in an interview after the prize-giving ceremony that he is over the moon with his daughter’s achievement.

“Words cannot express how proud I am of Tauvela and all the effort and hard work she has put in to claim the dux for Papauta this year. I thank God almighty for, without his guidance, Tauvela would not have been able to attain what she has achieved,” he said.

Speaking with the Samoa Observer, Tauvela said she is gifting her academic success to her parents as a gesture of appreciation for all they've done for her. 

“My parents were always supporting me every day while I was staying at Papauta Girls College’s hostel,” she said on Monday.

When Tauvela received the top award of the school, both her parents thanked her for her efforts in her education and told her she has made her family and village proud.

Tauvela says she is happy that she is now able to return the support er parents gave her for the past five years while she studied at Papauta.

“I feel happy now, I have made my parents happy and especially my teachers,” she said.

She said she was surprised when she found out she had received the school’s top award as she did not expect it.

“This first time I came here I only had fun at school, just that. It was the challenges from the church minister and parents and teachers to [focus] on studies. Now I have used the advice my teachers have given me,” she said.

The recent graduate's plan for the future is to take up the teaching profession, saying she wanted to be like the teachers who taught and mentored her at the college.

“Becoming a teacher provides an opportunity to nurture and encourage students to appreciate and develop their natural abilities and special interests,” she said.

“I would first like to thank the Principal, vice-principal, and the teachers for the opportunity given to me to study here at this school. I thank my parents for their support in what I do at school. Thank you for supporting my education."

Tauvela had also given thanks to her teachers and fellow peers.

“Thank you for the advice and everything you have done, thank you to my sisters here at school for the great relationship in the past five years,” she said.