An annual career day held at the Fa’atuatua Christian College on Thursday strived to get students to think seriously about their future employment prospects, says college principal Selepa Tipama’a.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Mrs Tipamaa said their annual career day didn’t just promote the subjects that they were offering at the school but also used the opportunity to get the students attending to think seriously about their future professions.

“We want to get students motivated about what they want to do when they leave school,” Mrs. Tipamaa said. 

“The idea of the career day is to prepare them for the careers they want to pursue in the future.

"We have set up activities and fun games and all of that will get them to engage in the actual course content.”

As part of the college’s effort to get attending students to think about the future, they got  Fa’atuatua pupils to dress in their favourite profession’s uniforms.

Mrs. Tipama’a said that five primary schools which include Peace Chapel Primary School, Ah Mu Academy, Saina Primary School, Vaitele Primary School and A’ele Primary School were invited to the college's career day.

“We chose these five schools because the majority of our students are from those schools,” she said.

“We feel that new students from these primary schools who may come to Fa’atuatua next year should already know what they’re going to study when they enroll in Year 9.”

Samoa Language Studies teacher at Fa’atuatua, So’oalo Lasi, emphasised the importance of students learning Samoan culture and traditions.

He said children these days are more interested in mobile phones and technology which has led to the loss of our culture.

"We hope by the end of today students will want to take up teaching in the field of Samoan studies in the future as a career path and ensure that the preservation of our language, traditions and culture is safeguarded," he said. 

Various booths were set up at the college to represent the different careers according to Mrs. Tipama’a. 

“The actual booth is mainly the work of the teachers and with some student's assistance because it's really towards promoting subjects and promoting the work of the teachers to the students,” she said.

“We have also got students who come in and help with poster making and all of that stuff."

Mrs. Tipama’a added that they will be awarding stationery voucher prizes to the most popular booths, displays as well as the best-themed outfit.

“This is our third year of hosting our career day and the goal is to make it better every time,” she said. 

“So this year there have been some improvements in participation, student participation and also we just wanted the kids to have fun today, be reminded of why they are in school, be more focused on their studies.

“We have no idea what happens tomorrow but while we are here, we make the best of what we can do at the moment and that is what today is about."

Ramsey Moto’otua, a Year 8 student at A’ele Primary School, said he wanted to be a lawyer in the future.

“I’m looking to work as a lawyer because I want to help people and families get justice for whatever reason they are sent to court,” he said.

He also added that he is looking forward to joining Fa'atuatua next year as he is impressed with the curriculum and the learning opportunities they're offering.