Students of Saint Mary’s College welcomed a very special visitor last week.
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She is short story author and journalist, Sara Vui Talitu, the woman behind popular books such as “Guilty Rain” and “Ma’a.”
With her writing greatly influenced by her work, every day people and events, Ms Talitu says it has always been her passion to write about life events that people do not really like to talk about.
“It’s a way for me to encourage the young writers to be sincere, humble and to write out of necessity to say something important,” she says.
Writing, she says, is an opportunity to “say something that delivers a message on some of the issues that are happening with the
Pacific people especially with the youths.”
At St. Mary’s, Ms Talitu encouraged the students to be creative and write their own stories.
“I am so honoured to be here and be able to share my story and work with the students here,” she said.
“My heart is in the Pacific. I do hope to see more Pacific students coming through as journalists, writers and authors.”
Principal of Saint Mary’s College, Loretta Ulugia, was grateful that the author took time to visit the school.
“Ms Talitu’s work is in the school certificate books that we study for English so it was very fortunate that we grabbed the opportunity, hearing that she was in Samoa,” said Ms Ulugia.
“It’s a good opportunity for the students to meet her in person and to ask questions so that they can get more insights and understanding about the story and about the person who wrote it.”
Ms Ulugia also said the visit also helped the teachers.
“We cover these two short stories every year in year 12 so it’s good to actually hear about the perspective of the person who wrote it,” she said.
Sara Vui Talitu is the daughter of Vui Nafaoina Tavita Fa’aniniva Vui Talitu from Lano, Savai’i, and the late Italia Imo, of Satitoa.
The New Zealand-born Samoan has a solid broadcasting background having worked with the Radio New Zealand International as a journalist, sub-editor and newsreader for ten long years.
She has two Masters degrees from the University of Auckland as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Canterbury. Her reporting interests include Pacific issues, women, business and health.
She is now a lecturer in media studies for the University of Auckland AUT.
Ms Vui said that she is now hoping to come back to Samoa and hopefully visit some more schools that are inspired by her writing.
“At first, I thought that no one was going to
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