Climbing through sheer hard work

By Vatapuia Maiava and Ilia L Likou 20 October 2016, 12:00AM

Hard and honest work is seen by many as the ultimate ingredient for success.

For Malaeoali’i Junior Lepale, from the village of Utuali’i, he has seen the rewards of honest work.

Aged 31, Malaeoali’i started working in a very low level position at the Meteorology office a while ago but through sheer hard honest work, he has made it up to the officer level. Malaeoali’i is currently on leave to deal with the passing of his mother.

“I am currently employed at the Meteorology division,” he told the Village Voice.

“I have taken some time off from work to prepare for my mother’s funeral. Some other members of the family will be arriving soon so I am just getting some minor things out of the way. My older brother recently passed so we just finished doing things for his funeral.”

His advice to Samoa is to keep working with honesty and your reward will come.

“Honest work is the key to getting rid of life’s problems,” he said.

“I started working at a low level job at the meteorology office, but through hard and honest work I have made it up to an officer level job. My advice to workers in Samoa is to work honestly, that’s the only thing that counts in this life. Make the most of every opportunity to build your expertise.”

When asked about problems in life Malaeoali’i said there are none.  What others view as problems, he sees as motivation.

“In regards to the expensiveness of life, I agree that costs for everything is increasing but it should be a motivation rather than a burden,” he said.

“I say this because if we see something getting harder to deal with then you should work harder to make it work. That’s how life is for us nowadays.

“As things become more expensive, then it should automatically generate thoughts in your mind of how to deal with the problem and how to make more money. If you just sit around and complain about it then where do you expect to go in life? You won’t get anything good out of life.

“For me personally, I use it as a way to motivate my work.”

And as he prepares for his mother’s funeral, Malaeoali’i says that even when it comes to a faalavelave, it’s not a problem as long as everyone works together.

“People complain about cultural activities such as funerals being a pain but it’s easy if you manage it properly,” he said.

“Things become easy if the whole family comes together to contribute to the gathering. If we all come together and do what needs to be done on that day then it will be alright.

“Even when it comes to money, if we all contribute a small sum then it will add up and take the burden off of the shoulders of other family members.”

By Vatapuia Maiava and Ilia L Likou 20 October 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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