Long distance study pays off

By Fetu Matai’a 03 May 2017, 12:00AM

Balancing University studies and living away from his family in his homeland of Sāmoa has paid off for one of Massey University’s newest Alumni. 

Lei’ataua Ioasa Afamasaga proudly marched in the graduate parade in Takapuna, Auckland with fellow graduates last Thursday after successfully completing a Bachelor of Construction majoring in Quantity Surveying. 

Lei’ataua, who lives in Palisi, Apia and hails from the villages of Manono, Fasito’o Tai and Samusu Aleipata, persevered through four years of studies at Massey University’s Albany campus in Auckland. 

“It has been a really challenging journey with many ups and downs but I am very happy that I was able to finish,” he said. 

“I was also the only person from the Pacific in my class.”

Being away from his family in Sāmoa was difficult for Lei’ataua who often travelled back to visit. 

“It was not easy. My family was back home in Sāmoa so I always went back to visit them during semester breaks.”

However, the main motivation behind Lei’ataua’s decision to study apart from his family was due to the lack of qualified people in his chosen degree.

“Not many people are qualified in this field of construction, especially in Sāmoa, and this was one of the main reasons why I wanted to complete this degree.”

Lei’ataua’s hard work has paid off as he was offered a job at the end of his third year of studies at Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure.

By Fetu Matai’a 03 May 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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