The commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Avele College this week brings a mix of emotions.
There is sadness, but there is also laughter.
Samoa Newshub asked the Minister of the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure about his memories from the years he attended the college.
He said:
“It was there that I learned to behave calmly and respectfully. Because, in those days, I would find myself crawling on my knees by the older boys; there was no opportunity to be proud.
“When you entered the school grounds early in the morning, you worried if your uniform was correctly worn and adjusted because if it wasn’t, before the teacher would find out, the older students would have already bullied you and dragged you around by your shirt collar.
“Despite my fear, I found ways to make school enjoyable as it became a routine, and I realised later that all that went on was all part of school for me.
“That was how I learned to maintain proper discipline, to go straight to class, and fully engage in my studies. Students today are very lucky,” said Olo Afoa Fiti Vaai.
The Minister first set foot in Avele in 1980, which was also the period when the school’s rugby team became champions.
Article was originally written in Samoan by Cena Lātu.
‘Na ou i le vaitaimi o le totolo i tama matutua’, Olo
E eseese lava lagona o le fa’amanatuina o le 100 tausaga o le Laumua o Avele i le vaiaso nei.
E iai le faanoanoa, e iai foi le ata.
Na fesiligia e le Samoa Newshub le afioga i le Minisita o le Mātagaluega o Galuega ma Atina’e Tetele a le Malo, i vaega na te manatua i tausaga na a’oga ai i le Kolisi.
Na ia saunoa,
“O i na a’o atu ai la’u amio filemu. Aua foi, e totolo solo i tama matutua i na vaitaimi, e le sao lava se fia tama mamafa.
“E ulufale mai loa i le loto’a i se taeao po, ta te popole a po’o sa’o lata toniga aua a leai, e mulimuli o’o mai le faiaoga ae mua’ina fetolaa’i solo ita e le autupulaga matutua na ou maua mai.
“O uiga na, e ui i le fefe, ae na alu fiafia a i le a’oga ina ua avea ma masaniga, ma iloa mulimuli ane ai, o a’oga a mea uma.
“O ina na ala ai ona iloa tausisi i le amio fa’atamaititi a’oga, ma alu sa’o loa i le vasega, matua’i fai le a’oga. E matua’i laki a fanau a’oga i nei ona po,” Olo Afoa Fiti Vaai.
O le 1980 na mua’i tuvae ai le Afioga i Avele, ma o le vaitau foi lena na siamupini ai le au tele a fanau a’oga a le laumua na masi’i mo ta’aloga lakapi.
