Thank you for this great teaching and thanks for giving your time to be with us.

My special advice to you is to be kind and nice to everyone, every time, just like you were to us.

What I want to say to you is you are a great teacher and you’re a special mother and a kind and lovely person.

And now I would like to give you a special quote

“Whatever comes from your mouth comes from your heart!

Love always.
Amataupu

Amataupu Taufau Fa’aofo, age 13
Pavaiai Elementary School, grade 8

Dear Parents:
You have a better life and future than what you think.
Some say that drinking and smoking release stress but that isn’t true. Your stress is your challenge and you have to face your problems and learn from them. The choices you make will affect your life

Here’s my advice:

To release stress spend time with your family. Don’t think negative. Think positive. If you have shattered dreams, block it, erase it. If you have a goal in life, grab it. Don’t wait. Make the decision.

Smoking and drinking don’t get you anywhere you want to go.
Your life stays the same; you can’t change.
But you can if you’ve got heart and put your strength in quitting.

Quote for you: “Life is not a game. Every choice you make has a consequence. So choose wisely.”

By Nicholus T, age 16
Faleniu. Pagopago American Samoa

SELF DESCRIPTION:
I am Nickolus T. I attend Kananafon High school and am a junior there. I love to play sports, football and basketball. I like to watch movies a lot during the weekends. And helping out my mom and dad. I can cook and wash dishes and do all the chores around my house. I love going to school and I’m trying to be in the NHS.

My goal is to make my family happy and get good grades and study hard, especially for my father. He is a doctor and I’m trying to represent his position as a doctor, not only for my family, but I’m doing this for my future to come.

I am a bright student. My favorite subjects are Math, chemistry and English, but the one I favor the most is chemistry, which is science. I want to know why things dissolve and change, why chemicals change. And I love to know more about the periodic table.

But, truly, my goal is to graduate, get a scholarship and go to college and try to get a degree and maybe end up like my father.

Or maybe join the army or Marine Corps – or not. Something else … Another kind of work I’ve been longing to get is to become a stock holder. They make a lot of money. These are my goals and I wish and dream that all the things I want for my future and high school life will be accomplished.

Thank you, Nickolus

ADVICE TO ADULTS
ABUSE HURTS
PROTECT THE CHILDREN

By Vinesa F, age 13. Matafao School.
Fagatogo, American Samoa

I love swimming. I love to sing, and I love school. My favorite colors are blue and black
My best friend is Jendina. My parents are Tasi and Feagai, I go to church every Sunday.
I love to ride in our new car. I also love to read novels and also to watch cartoons.
I’m tall and I’m pretty.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am writing you guys this letter because I want you to come back home in
American Samoa.

Sincerely,
Suasoge

Age 13
Pavai’ai Elementary School, Grade level 8

Self description:
My name is Suasogi. I was born in February
I live in the village of Faleiiu in American Samoa. I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers
I like to read books every day
I favorite foods are fish and chicken. My favorite colors are blue and red
I like singsongs every day
My favorite friends in school are Faust ands Romel
My favorite subjects are Math and Health
I want to be a NFL player.

Relationships – Stay True to Your Spouse

So many parents I’ve heard and seen had problems within their relationships.
So my advice is Stay True to your Spouse.

Don’t do stupid actions that will make the other think you are just making excuses.

Don’t leave without telling your husband or wife where you are going.

By Sandra, Age 17
Address: Mesepa, PagoPago, American Samoa
Tafuna High School
Grade level 12th (senior)

Self description:
Hobbies: sports such as volleyball and basketball
Love to listen to music
Do chores
Love making friends, reading, much more

Favorites:
Colors- green & brown
Foods- mackerel, banana
Movie- Walk to Remember (Mandy Moore)
Singers- Jordan Sparks, Chris Bron
Brand of shoe- Old Navy, Nike, Jordan
Car- Toyota
Subjects in school- math and English
Pet – kitten

My family:
Parents, 2 sisters, 1 brother

Dear Bro,

I am writing to you because I want to tell you how we are doing. Mom & Dad are very proud of you. They want you to have a safe journey hone when you come back again.

We hope you are very well and pray everyday so God will keep you safe from harmful weapons. You have strength. You fight for our country, for America.

Never quit what you are doing. God is watching over you and is protecting you

Your friends are dying to see you again and I just want you to know that we are supporting you and we are prying for you to live longer.

Sincerely,
Your brother, Faust

By Faust Alvin Mamea:
Age 13
Address: Faleniu, American Samoa
Pavaiai Elementary School
Grade level 8

Self description:
My name is Faust Mamea
I was born in December 1995
I am from American Samoa in the village of Faleniu
I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters
I like reading books
I like chatting with my friends on the computer
My favorite hobbies are basketball, football and video games

I have lovely parents. Their names are Fanautanu and Faafete Mamea

I go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
My goal is to be an NFL player one day.

ADVICE FOR ADULTS

FIGHTING DOESN’T SOLVE ANYTHING

VIOLENCE DOESN’T SOLVE ANYTHING

ALSO DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

BY JENDINA, AGE 13
PAGOPAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA
MATAFAO, L-7B
I AM CARELESS
HELPFUL
SMART
PRETTY
I ALWAYS COME PREPARED FOR SCHOOL
I ALWAYS TRY MY BEST IN SCHOOL
I LOVE TEACHING
IN LIKE PETS
I’M FULL SAMOAN

My advice is to the younger generation.

Stay in school and be cool.

As you all know, education is very important.

Learning is the most important of all.
If you don’t’ get a good education, sorry, people, but you don’t bet a good job or happy family.

So, education first, before having a boyfriend or girlfriend, before anything.

Stay in school.

I hope you listen.

By Valielia M., age 18
American Samoa
School: Tafuna High School
Grade 12

Self description:
I am Valelia
I live in Mesepa
I am 18 years old
I love my friends
I miss my brother every day
I like to play basketball and volleyball
I love my dad and mom

Advice to People who Smoke

I would like to give some advice for those who smoke.
Smoking can damage your lungs.
It makes your teeth brown and also makes your lips black.
Smoking is not a good thing. It can make your life short.

By Vaaite, age 15
Address: Faleniu
School: Tafuna High School
Grade level 10

Self-description:
I am Vaaiti Dimitri Faalogo
I like to eat rice
I like to plat volleyball
My favorite food is pizza
I am a person who likes to help others
I have three favorite fruits, apples, oranges and grapes
I like to show respect to others and myself.

Dear Doctors,

My advice to al of you doctors is to please do your job right. I’m not saying you’re bad doctors, I just want to say, please help our people. Help people go get better. Don’t waste your time flirting around with some stranger. Help the patient get well.

We don’t know, but I think that’s why, some of the people died. It’s because of you not doing your job. Give your whole heart, head and love into it.

Help them to get better so they can spend much time together with their family. Their family needs then and they need their family too. That’s why sometimes people died, because you aren’t doing your job right.

All of us, we need your help. Maybe it’s not your fault, but I’m just saying that’s what I think. Help your loved ones, poor ones and even yourself.

What I see is that some of the doctors wee talking and playing around and leave the patient alone.

Some of the doctors, they say stop smoking, it’s bad for your health. Well, I say to you, stop smoking yourself because it’s bad for you too. You’re hurting yourself if what you say is true.

My whole advice means Do Your Job. Don’t waste time. Spend your time wisely. Stay near the patient and calm them down. Sometime s the people really need your help, but you (try to) do something so that you can have time talking, sleeping and walking all around.

We really really, really need your help. Help us.

Written 1/13/09 by
Patricia F, age 14

Mesepa 1st Ward, Level A/ Freshman, Pago Pago, American Samoa

Patricia’s description of herself:
Samoan, Born in Tutuila, loves God.
Beautiful, smart, strong, a basketball player
A good singer, loves singing and dancing. One of my goals and dreams is that one day I will be in America singing to thousands of people.
Smart. Loves school and homework. I want to finish my education and live a better life
I want to be a National Honor Society student
I am a good girl… kind and good. I try to always choose right
I want to have people love one another and help each other
I always take good care of myself.
I want to get married one day
I love my parents a lot, and my brothers too. I have no sisters, am the only girl in my family.
My favorite color is green.
I will make my dreams and goals come true.
I will take good care of my parents when I get a fine job

Dear Class of Mesapa First Ward

Thank you for allowing me to visit your class.

And a special thanks to Dr. Tui!

I hope I got all your writings here.
If I missed something, please send it to me at either of the addresses below.
I hope we can stay in touch.

Sincerely,
Sharon

You can write to me at:

whatiwishyouknew@gmail.com

or

What I Wish You Knew
P.O. Box 684
Glenview, IL. 60025
USA

Dear Parents in American Samoa,

Parents in American Samoa, I have only one advice for you. Spoiling kids and hurting kids is not the right way to treat them.

I believe that God sends or give us parents to guide us and protect us. Not sending them to us so we kids and children can do whatever we want. They can’t do every right thing in this world because no one is perfect,

God didn’t send you as a parent to hurt us.
Or to spoil us because we are their only daughter or the prettiest one. That’s not right.

They have to help us, protect us, guide us. Not hurt us till we get bruises, then they stop.

Why go to church if you do this kind of stuff? It is no use you say that God love us as they love us. It is no use to say that.

My advice is to stop this kind of thing. The purpose for parents is to take care of us and to bring happiness in our lives.

No name please

ADVICE FOR ADULTS

FIGHTING DOESN’T SOLVE ANYTHING

VIOLENCE DOESN’T SOLVE ANYTHING

ALSO DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

BY JENDINA, AGE 13
PAGOPAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA
MATAFAO, L-7B
I AM CARELESS
HELPFUL
SMART
PRETTY
I ALWAYS COME PREPARED FOR SCHOOL
I ALWAYS TRY MY BEST IN SCHOOL
I LOVE TEACHING
IN LIKE PETS
I’M FULL SAMOAN

This advice goes out to anybody who will read it.

Please stop talking bad about other people. This mainly goes out to moms, because I know the moms talk a lot. This is not true for my mom because she never talks about other women’s daughters. She only talks about me and my sisters
To the others: Sometimes it is hard to control our mouths.

Why I give this advice to women is because women in today’s world seem to be trying to destroy the young or teenage girl.
Talking bad about other women’s daughter is not good. It will cause drama between our families. That’s all I want to say

I hope the mom who should be reading this will see it and will stop. Stop talking bad about me! You don’t even know who I am.

Age 16.
Tapuna High School, Grade 11

Self description:
I am a Daughter of God, a good cook, a fast eater, a volleyball player
Beautiful and skinny, a rock star
A helpful person. I love my parents and have a best friend.

Missing my baby

Not interested in boys that much

Dear Dad,

I say these things to you because I know you’re a nice and good person. I know you would want this advice:

The question was:
Is it true that kids are drinking more now than ever before?
My answer is Yes.

I see a lot of kids drinking in 6th grade and older kids too. I see kids at nu’li all the tine drinking beer. My advice to you is that you should know this.

From Gwendolyn
Age 12
School: Pava’ai Elementary School
Grade level 7

Self description:
My name is Gwendolyn S
I want to be a doctor because of when I was sick. I know what to do. I really love it.
I live in the beautiful village of Mesepa. It is a good village to live in. I really like it.
I want to fix my teeth because they hurt a lot. I need to go see a doctor for my teeth because they really hurt
I love to go to church.
I like to eat and I eat a lot of food.
Sometimes I eat candy, which I know is not good for us.

Advice to Teachers

In school there are some teachers who don’t understand what they are teaching.

And also some of them allow students to smoke.

So my advice for them is that they should study their lessons before they try to teach students.

Mainly, they should be a good role model for students.

Robert F, age 17
Falenia, American Samoa
School: Fafuna High School, Grade level 11

Self description:
I am a junior in high school
I am a sophisticated person, friendly and respectful too.
I am usually a very peaceful student
I am a person that likes to help others and I give good advice to friends and family members
I like to play volleyball, football and basketball
I like to eat vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, pumpkin and cucumbers

Advice

My advice to all parents is to start talking to your children before they start getting involved in bad situations, situations such as drinking alcohol, smoking - and other things too.

Advice to my own dear parents:
If you don’t want your kids to become like you two, please QUIT right away.

I’ll take my old friends for an example. They are drinking alcohol, smoking and etc., too. I think the more you smoke and drink, the harder for you to quit. Also the more you keep on doing that, the more it damages you inner body.

Advice for adults:
Be a good model.

Written by Alvina U, Age 14
Tafuna High School, Grade level 9

Self description:
I am a beautiful girl, the daughter of my parents. My brother is Vincent.
I’d like to become a good role model for my siblings
I am an eager student. I love to attend school every day without skipping classes.
My hope for a job for the future is to be a nurse or doctor
My favorite subject is mathematics . My weakest subjects are science and social studies.
I am an athletic person. My favorite sports are volleyball and basketball.
I like to watch good movies, especially cartoons.
What I like least is waking up early every morning to attend school and seminary

Dear Parents,

Try to be grateful and to love one another.

That’s my advice to you.

written by
Amataupu T, age 13
Address: Mesepast I ward
Pavaiai Elementary School, level 8

Amataupu’s self description:
I am a strong, and a smart Samoan girl. I am a kind and brave and faithful person, respectful, and a member of the LDS Church. I am president of our Beehives Class I like to hang around with kids everyday and have fun with them. My favorite hobbies are reading, playing and watching TV. My favorite subjects are reading, Samoan and math. The best teachers I ever had are: Gertrude Allen, Filemoni Tanielu, Taua Fa’asulu My best friends are Perenise, Frances, Jacimla, Noel, Ruta, Pricilla, Patricia, Upulasi

My goals for the future
Having A’s on my report card
Being a nurse
Being a basketball player
To graduate from college without any problems
To be a famous person, maybe a writer
To have a better future

I want to learn more

Letter to the Bishop of our Ward:
“Would you please bring in more specialists like this, so that we will learn more and remember things that we learn in school. To help us be good in the future.”

From Viane

Age 14
Address: Faleniu
Pavaiai Elementary School
Grade level 8

About me:
I always share my food with my friends
I like to go to school. To learn important things
I like to play volleyball to get more energy to make my body strong
I always come to church
My short term goal is to be a teacher
My long term goal is to make a good family
I wish I had a great job to help my family
I want to graduate from school
I want to be a lovely person to my friends and my family
I want people to respect each other.

Parents should listen

I know parents are in charge of your life when you’re little. But now they don’t really know what you want in life.
.
They just keep on telling you what to do. And they tell us we should listen to them.

But sometimes parents have to listen to what their child wants.

In my life, all I want is for my parents to understand me, how I feel about things.

They have just got to hear you out for who you want to be, and for what you want in the future.

I know they’re just trying to act their roles as parents, But they have to listen!

If they listen, their child will listen too.

And maybe accomplish their dreams. I just wish they understood.


By Malaesa L, age 12. Matafao Elementary School, Grade 7

About me:
I like spending time with my family, my cousins too
I love my parents
I like being myself
I like coming to school to learn. I really like my school
The very best thing I like to eat is fruit, all fruits
I like exploring because of social studies
Sometimes I am shy of some things.

In my family, I like my Dad the best of all.

My only wish in this world is to bring back my dad

Stress

There are a lot of things that I stress with. When I have a lot of homework- and have to do chores- and have to clean everything in my room.

By Rochelle, age 12
Nu’uili
American Samoa

About me:
I am short and strong.
I’m pretty and smart.
I’m healthy
I like my hair and my clothes
I like my hands and face
I like to come to school to learn
I like to play sports