On Monday, Ana Agaalii celebrated her 67th birthday, marking a milestone in her career. She has been in a wheelchair for the last two years, but this has not stopped her.

Mrs Agaalii first retired as a teacher at 55, but something in her told her that this was not the end. She has had her contract extended and, despite obstacles, she has kept going.

Mrs Agaalii is from Sapunaoa Falealili. She started her teaching career in 1976. Life threw her many challenges. She overcame all of them.

"I was born to be a teacher and I will die doing it," Mrs Agaalii laughed sharing her passion for teaching.

In November 2023, she thought that it was the end of her teaching career when one of her legs was amputated.

She did not give up hope after she recovered. She is now in a wheelchair but she is back inside a classroom.

Mrs Agaalii said it was hard adjusting to having one leg but she knew that these are tests of life.

She has been a teacher for almost 50 years and a second mother to the children she has taught and continue to teach.

"I still teach and push the students in the classroom to do better, that's all that matters to me is to see the students I teach succeeding in life," Mrs Agaalii said.

She is married to Tuiloma Taveuveu Agaalii Liliva of Satalo and has eight children and many grandchildren, who inspire Mrs Agaalii to continue teaching every day.

She wishes a happy Mother's Day to all the mothers of Samoa here and abroad.