Nine teachers at Liahona High School in Tonga recently reached their life-long dream of graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree and teaching certificate from Brigham Young University Hawaii.
Tongan graduates and two professors pose with BYUH President John S. Tanner and his wife Susan; Apostle Neil L. Andersen and his wife Kathy Sue; and Church Commissioner of Education, Elder Kim B. Clark, following Graduation and Commencement Exercises at BYU Hawaii in Laie.
This is the school’s largest group of teachers at one time to achieve this major milestone. To celebrate, eight of the nine gathered the necessary funds to make the trip to Hawaii and attend Graduation and Commencement Exercises at BYUH in Laie.
Their significant achievement was made possible through the International Teacher Education Program (ITEP) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This program is conducted by senior missionaries who have education backgrounds and temporarily live in Tonga as volunteers. They teach courses from BYUH’s School of Education under the direction of the Church’s Seminaries and Institutes.
Elder Bryce Holbrook, past ITEP missionary, said, “This pursuit by the teachers requires a lot of dedication, persistence, perseverance, and time management. These amazing individuals work full-time as teachers, have family responsibilities, have church callings, and work on their course work all at the same time; enduring toward their goals and aspirations as Latter-day Saints.”
The graduates are Aloine Lupe Havea from the island of Eua, Eua Middle School and Principal; Mele Tonga Toutai Katoa from the island of Tongatapu, Havelu Middle School; Fe’ofa’aki-A’-Kakau Funaki Latu, from Tongatapu, Pakilau Middle School; Pasimati Finau Kuateri Manuofetoa from Vava’u, Seineha High School; Fatai Lutui Moli from Tongatapu, Liahona Middle School; Ina Fawson Moli Taufa from Tongatapu, Havelu Middle School; Folola Taufa ‘Ukakala from Tongatapu, Pakilau Middle School; Lesieli ‘Ofa Latu Vaitai from Tongatapu, Liahona Middle School.
One of the graduates, Fatai Moli, said, “Graduation was a very awesome experience—to be the first person to graduate with a degree in my family. I learned to move forward no matter what I went through. But with perseverance and trusting the Lord anything is possible.”
Liahona staff are not required to have a diploma or certificate in order to be hired as a teacher. However, once hired, they are required to earn a teaching certificate by taking the Brigham Young University – Hawaii (BYUH) courses taught after school each afternoon.
Many of the teachers continue on to pursue additional courses, enhancing their skills as higher level educators and providing encouragement to their students to excel in academic goals.
ITEP missionary, Sherrie Holbrook was a significant catalyst for these teachers as she taught several of the courses.
She says, “I had past experience through Utah Valley University, and I had the privilege to offer five methodology courses that otherwise would have been out of reach for these wonderful teachers. I am very grateful for these teachers’ dedication to meet the requirements of these courses via our wiki space site and follow-up weekly telephone meetings. It was an amazing experience to teach these courses to these very dedicated teachers.”
Mele T Katoa said of her experience, “I believe achievement will happen with sacrifice and hope. I planned and gave to my Father in Heaven to organise how I would achieve my vision. I put God first and I prayed and worked for my goal. Not only that, I sacrificed my whole life, and my whole time, and my family time, and they helped me a lot to achieve my goal. I thank my husband for his help to take care of responsibilities. I trusted God with all my heart, mind and strength. I’m so grateful for the Church and for this opportunity to go to school. I can’t explain how happy I was on graduation day.”
Liahona High School is one of seven Latter-day Saint schools in the South Pacific country of Tonga—five middle schools and two high schools. Approximately 150 teachers teach the wide spectrum of curriculum—Tongan culture and studies, English and reading, science, math, social studies, business, technology, cooking, electronics, carpentry, art, music, sewing, metal work, drafting, and seminary—to some 2500 students.
Elder Holbrook said, “All nine graduating teachers will be with their students when the new school year begins in January 2017. They will be outstanding examples, showing you can accomplish your goals, especially education goals, when you apply yourself and never give up.
“These teachers will have wonderful stories to relate to their students about the special graduation exercise they were able to participate in. But more importantly, this life-long dream will continue to be a life-long story that will be shared, making a difference for this generation and future generations, and this influence is what it’s all about for a teacher.”
BYUH graduate Lesieli ‘Ofa Latu Vaitai said, “Growing up I witnessed the sacrifice my parents had to make in order to put my siblings and I in school. Funding our school fees was not always easy but my parents never failed to pay our tuitions on time year in and year out until our youngest sister graduated from high school. All of this was based on a vision that education is the only opportunity for a better future.
“When I got married and sealed to my eternal companion in the Tonga Temple, it dawned on me that I have obligations for my family and the only way to get a better life for me and my family was to go back to school.
“I have been a student for several years now and I am amazed at the abundance of knowledge I have accumulated which has affected my life in so many ways. I’ve witnessed how effective I have become in my roles in the family, community and church calling. I realise that education is a life-long journey that has no limit. It is us who limit ourselves from the knowledge that is available to be acquired.
“On my graduation day I was so emotional as I saw the joy my family shared with me and deep down in my heart I knew that I had accomplished the vision that my parents wished for us children. The academic path I chose was not as easy as I anticipated it to be. I had to make sacrifices. I even had to concurrently juggle different obligations which included family, job, church calling and community obligations as I took my courses. There were times I wanted to quit, but my husband, my sisters and my son motivated me to move on.
“Through this all I know I wouldn’t have crossed the finish line if Heavenly Father wasn’t in this pursuit. He was my source of provision. I know that it’s his will to get an education, so asking him for his help was easy because I was doing his will.”
Story and photo contributor: Bryce Holbrook