Mariri fulfills her mother’s dream – Cook Islands News

The 30-year-old mother of four, who has been a local teacher for more than five years, fulfilled her own and her mother’s dream in her busy life and graduated from the University of the South Pacific (USP) with a Bachelor of Education degree.

Rangi Mariri, a teacher at Avarua Primary School in Apii, completed her education in eight years while juggling building a new home and taking care of her four children.

She is one of four local teachers confirmed to graduate from the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands campus next year with a Bachelor of Education degree.

Growing up in Mauk, Marilee has always had a passion for teaching, inspired in large part by her mother who encouraged her to not just pursue an ordinary job but a brighter future.

“I always wanted to be a teacher, but teachers back home didn’t encourage me because they said it was hard work,” she shared.

“But I think, out of all our classmates, I’m the only one who continued to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher, and now I’ve been teaching for five years.

“But what pushed me to take the course was my mother. She had a scholarship but she couldn’t go because she wanted to go home and take care of her family and grandmother.”

While Marylee was in college, her mother always demanded that she graduate with “a piece of paper,” and not just a certificate, but a teaching certificate.

“This is her dream and my dream as well,” Marilee said.

“She said I had to get a job and not just think about getting a job and calling it a day. She said my job would take me far and when I got the news I got the job, the first person I went to see was her. She said it wouldn’t be the end of it.”

Now, Mariri is excited and passionate about pursuing a graduate degree in education and other opportunities.

“Obviously, I love teaching, and I love kids. I’m a mom of four, and my kids are my biggest joy,” she explained. “This year, I’ve spent more time at school than at home, even during the holidays, thinking about planning, what to do, how to help, keeping an eye on where the kids are and where I need them at the end of the year.”

“During those eight years of study, I took a year off because they couldn’t offer me any courses, so I had to go to Fiji and then come back.”

Marilee thanked the government for funding her educational journey, especially for allowing the government to offer courses locally so that she could pursue her dream without having to leave her hometown.

“You don’t need to leave home to do it because you can do it at USP, a lot of people have to go to New Zealand to make money but there are a lot of opportunities here.”

When asked about local teachers’ salaries, Marilee stressed that salary was never her motivation for pursuing an education degree, but rather her students.

“When you’re a teaching assistant you don’t get paid during the holidays and I feel like they’re always comparing but they never knew we were going to go three weeks without pay.”

Fellow graduate Marie William, who also teaches at Apii Avarua School, found Marilee’s journey inspiring.

“I told her you are my role model and she asked why and I told her, ‘Girl, you study, you have children, you build a house, you get married’,” William recalled.

“I hope this inspires all the young boys and girls in the Cook Islands and the Pacific region to know that you can still achieve all these goals and get a degree.

“Working with Longhi, I need to stay humble, but I think if you come from the right place and for the right reasons, you can do anything.”

For Marilee, being a teacher is a lifelong commitment and she believes a teacher’s role extends beyond the classroom.