Dr Ali'itasi Su'a Fuimaono Tavila grew up in Samoa but was only 14 years-old when she moved to New Zealand in 1975 after winning a scholarship to attend a New Zealand school.

Samoan

"E ui ina tele taimi sa tauivi ai ma meaa'oga, ae ua tauia lo'u tautigā."

E faatāua e Dr Ali'itasi Su'a Fuimaono Tavila le a'oga. O lona talitonuga mau, e taunu'u miti a tagata pe a maualuga le soifua a'oa'oina.

Sa soifua a'e Ali'itasi i Gagaifo i Lefaga ma Falelatai i Upolu. O le 1975 na malaga mai ai e a'oga faasikolasipi i Niu Sila.

Sa nonofo i Porirua āiga o Ali'itasi ma sa a'oga i le Kolisi o Porirua. Na o ia le teine na fanau i Samoa i totonu o le vasega ma sa lagona lona popole. Sa fai lana tala faapea: "E mafai ona sili atu a'u nai lo isi tamaiti i le vasega" ma o se talitonuga malosi na mafai ai ona faamanuiaina lona soifua a'oa'oina.

Na tu'ua e Ali'itasi le Kolisi o Porirua ae ulufale i le Hutt Valley High School ma sa nā o ia fo'i le tagata Samoa, e lē gata i lana vasega ae faapea le a'oga atoa.

Na faigaluega faaofisa ina ua mae'a ana a'oga i le Wellington Polytechnic ma sa lafo le tele o lona totogi i lona āiga i Samoa. Sa toe fo'i i Samoa e tausi ona mātua mo le 3 tausaga. O le faanaunauga o Ali'itasi e toe a'oga, na toe fo'i mai ai ma a'oga i le Iunivesetē ma o se tulaga faigatā mo se tagata matua. Ae o lona lototele ma lona talitonuga mau o lana inivesi lea mo lona lumana'i na faafaigofie ai ana a'oga

Sa faamanuiaina lona soifua a'oa'oina i faailoga o le: Bachelor in Social Work, Masters ma le PhD. I le taimi nei o lo o avea Dr Ali'itasi ma Faia'oga Sinia mo le faailoga o le Pasifika Health i le Iunivesetē o Vitoria i Ueligitone. Sa ta'utino e Dr Ali'itasi "e ui ina tele taimi sa tauivi ai ma meaa'oga, ae ua tauia lo'u tautigā"

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English

While she struggled many times during her studies, that struggle has been worthwhile.

Dr Ali'itasi Su'a Fuimaono Tavila is passionate about education. She firmly believes that higher education is a pathway which helps people achieve their dreams.

Ali'itasi grew up in Samoa, in the villages of Gagaifo i Lefaga and Falelatai (Upolu). She was only 14 years-old when she moved to New Zealand in 1975, after winning a scholarship to attend a New Zealand school…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details