The Samoa Observer has been home to many budding journalists both past and present, with Shavoni Sapolu, a former student from Melbourne, Australia being the most recent of volunteers to join the team.
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Having graduated from R.M.I.T University in December last year with a Bachelor of Professional Communication, Ms. Sapolu said that it was now time to gain some real world experience and put her three years of education to the test.
“My degree specialized in public relations, media and journalism so I definitely wanted to explore at least one of these aspects in detail,” she said.
“My family and I are avid rugby fans, so we had originally planned to come to Samoa for the All Blacks vs. Manu Samoa game earlier this month. I decided to go out on a limb, continue my stay and ask the Samoa Observer for some work experience.”
Having only just started on Thursday, Ms. Sapolu is looking forward to the remainder of her stay and is elated that her journalistic ventures will give her an opportunity to see more of Samoa and more importantly, to bring to light the stories and issues of our people.
“Compared to Melbourne, Samoa offers a real change of pace,” she said.
“It’s great to be able to escape from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne life and to be immersed in Samoan culture. Being part Samoan myself and being here on my own, has not only enabled me to learn more about the Samoan people and customs, but about myself also.”
Asked about the challenges she has encountered so far, Ms. Sapolu said fending for herself would have to take the cup.
“I’m a real stay-athome girl, so having to get through mountains of my own washing in buckets under a hose has been the hardest challenge so far,” she laughs.
“All jokes aside, broadening my horizons and deciding to do something constructive for myself has been the greatest experience for me.
“Prior to coming here, I was caught in a rut- being a recent graduate and feeling the pressure of after-Uni life. Having no jobs or internships lined up made me feel like I was on a constant loop with no end goal in sight.”
“If I could offer any advice, it would be to muster up the courage to take a chance and do something for yourself.
Nothing good comes to those who wait.”
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