Hard work leads to success

By Aruna Lolani 17 May 2017, 12:00AM

If you want to succeed, be prepared to work. Hard.

So says Fa’alelei Sio, a hard-working father of eight children from Leauva’a.

When the Village Voice caught up with him yesterday, the 64-year-old was on his way to work at his plantation. 

“Everything is okay here at our side,” Fa’alelei said. 

“We’re very, very tight as a family unit and our children are our life.”

“We do have everything we need and we live off the help of our children overseas.” 

“The plantation is our second option when our children have too many bills to pay.”

At his farm, Faalelei grows cucumbers; cabbages and peanuts. When it’s time to harvest, he sells them for extra money.

Fa’alelei says life is always hard. 

“I cannot help but think about not only how hard life is but also how we could get by each day.” 

“This is why nothing can stop me from working hard to help provide for my family.”

“I put the needs of my children before anything else, and I’ve been doing this all the time. Our kids become our life.”

Speaking of children, Faalelei said it is important to set good examples for them to follow.

“While you are providing for your kids, at the same time you are showing your children what they should expect in their future,” he said.

“They would know that nothing comes easy, in fact nothing comes free. For anything in this life, you have to work and earn it.”

Fa’alelei said it is sweet when we reap the results of hard work.

“Remembering our roots and humble beginnings should motivate us every day,” he said. “It should challenge us to keep getting better, day after day.”

Asked if there were any challenges with farming, he said it’s the weather.

“As you also know the whole of last week, our weather was very challenging,” he said. 

“Some of my crops were ruined and I won’t be selling any fruits this week or within a month.” 

“It takes a while to re-grow them. So hopefully we won’t be having any bad weather again.”

By Aruna Lolani 17 May 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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