Ia malu lou sā. Folau I lagimā: ‘A well-grounded self, is a successful self’

REFLECTION ON SAMOAN LANGUAGE WEEK

O le lagona o le fa’agae’etia ma le fiafia aua o nei atunu’u e to’atele tamaiti Samoa ae faigata ona iloa po’o ai o se tama po’o se teine Samoa. Ae ua avea le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa ma se avanoa e fa’aali ai le lotonu’u ma le mitamita I tu ma aga fa’asamoa ua fa’alia i le la’eiina o ofu Samoa, auai I le polokalame sa fa’atinoina ai siva ma pese fa’aleaganu’u fa’apea tautalaga I lo tatou Gagana.

O siva ma Pese, pese fatu ma le tele o fa’afiafiaga fa’asamoa sa mafai ona momoli mai ai se feau i tagata aemaise tamaiti aoga. Sa fa’ailoa mai ai tu ma aga, aganuu ma agaifanua a Samoa. Ae le gata i lea, o tautalaga a tamaiti laititi i totonu o le Laumua. Sa ou fa’alogoina le tele o feau momoli e tusa ma tautalaga a nai fanau e fa’atatau lea i le autu poo le manulauti o le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa o lenei tausaga e fa’apea: IA MALU LOU SA,FOLAU I LAGIMA. E tele feau momoli mai aua le tapasaina ai o tagata Samoa o loo nonofo ma aumau i Aotearoa nei, fa’apea tupulaga lalovaoa o Samoa o loo feola ma tuputupu a’e. Sa ou maua fo’i le avanoa ou te fa’asoa ma taumafai ou te tautala i le Autu o le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa I le fa’atasiga o le matou a’oga. E leí faigofie ae sa lagona lava le agaga o le fiafia i le amanaiaina o se fa’atauva’a, ae o le mea sili ua ou maua se avanoa ou te fa’asoa ai i le autu o se vaega taua tele ia te a’u ma o se pinefa’amau fo’i ia te a’u ma lo’u ola tuputupua’e i so’u fa’atinoina o ni tulaga fa’apea, e taua tele ia te au aua o la’u aganuu ma la’u agaifanua e matua maualuga i lo’u ola a’oa’oina:

Theme: “A well-grounded self is a successful self”

When I first heard this theme, I thought about what it really means to be grounded. For me, it is about knowing who I am. It is about being connected to my family, my culture, my language, and my values. Growing up in a Samoan family, we are always reminded to respect others, serve with a good heart, and to do everything with humility. These are values that have shaped who I am, and I know they will help me in the future, no matter where I go, what I may achieve, being connected to the core of who I am as a tama’ita’I Samoa will always lead me to the most successful version of myself that serves to benefit my aiga, nu’u ma le ekalesia.

“Ia malu lou sā. Folau i Lagima,”

Which means, when your sacred space is protected, your journey to greatness will be peaceful.

That sacred space can be anything: your culture, your identity, your family, or even just knowing what you stand for. If we protect that, if we stay true to who we are, then we’re already on the path to success. Being grounded doesn’t mean being stuck, it means having strong roots so we can grow even taller.  So this week, as we celebrate the beauty of our language and culture, let’s remember to carry those things with us not just this week, but every day. Because the stronger our foundation, the stronger our future.

Soifua ma ia Manuia!

Nora Siaosi Tiavaasue

Vasega 13 Gagana Samoa

Southern Cross Campus