For Christian Fa’atoese from the village of Magiagi and Vailoa, he believes the future depends on what you do today.

The 20-year-old who is a former student of Maluafou College is helping to look after his family. He is looking for an opportunity to head to New Zealand for find a job in the meat industry so he can send some money back to his family.

He wants to be self–dependent and to rely on the fruits of his own hard labour.

“It is another chance and another beginning for me,” he said of the prospect of working in New Zealand.

“One opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and success to more success.” 

Christian said he was taught to always be positive no matter what.

“As you can see, education isn’t just the way of success it’s how we develop ourselves and think out of the box.

“Although my family does earn enough, I still want to do more than that.

“You see the thing is, we won’t be staying with our families for the rest of our lives. We learn to be independent and self develop.”

Christian said New Zealand is the best place for him to develop.

Asked about the challenges facing youth in Samoa today, Christian said it’s a matter of different influences.

“You know, it is tough to encourage yourself to do the right thing when people around you enjoy life and try to push you down,” he said.

He went on to say that when you change the quality of your thinking, you change the quality of your life, sometimes instantly.

 “This year I want to start a new life. I want to encourage others to always think positively.”