From an Early Childhood Education (ECE) and primary school teacher to a social media influencer, meet 39-year-old Florence Boboria, also known as ‘Flora Sua’ on Facebook.
Hailing from Lavustaka village in East Kwara’ae and Aisisiki village in Central Kwara’ae, Malaita Province, Flora ventured into social media to bring joy to herself while battling cancer.
Flora’s journey to social media fame began as a personal outlet. “Around the year 2000, I was very sick with cancer. The doctors said I wouldn’t live much longer, but after six months, I recovered,” she recalls. “That felt like a second chance at life. From then on, I decided not to care about what others thought. I just wanted to be happy.”
Flora’s love for dancing and singing motivated her to start sharing videos online. “Facebook is great for keeping memories, so I began posting to remind myself to be happy,” she explains. Although her first video didn’t appeal to everyone, Flora saw it as a positive step.
She noticed how much time young people spent on Facebook, and she was concerned about the negative influences. “I wanted to raise awareness about bad behavior online, especially with people exposing themselves inappropriately. I encouraged young people to respect each other and add humor to their interactions.”
For Flora, being authentic is key. “It’s important to be yourself. Don’t live for others. We only have one life, so enjoy it. Be happy, and stay positive, because negativity doesn’t bring anything good.”
Handling Criticism and Negativity
Flora advises her followers to stay positive even in the face of criticism. “Negativity can be constructive. I let people express themselves, and I choose to take their criticism in a positive light. It’s good to share ideas and connect, especially on platforms like Facebook.
“When people are negative, it’s often due to their own struggles or upbringing. It’s important to understand and empathize with them rather than judge.”
A Changed Life Through Social Media
Flora admits that social media has changed her life. Once shy, her battle with cancer transformed her into a confident woman who no longer fears judgment. “Going through cancer made me realize there’s nothing to be ashamed of. God made me, loves me, and I am happy being me.”
Prior to moving to New Zealand, Flora worked as a primary school teacher at St. Nicholas Primary School in Honiara. She later relocated to New Zealand to study Early Childhood Education, where she met her husband. Flora has lived in New Zealand for nearly 20 years and is now a mother of two—a 14-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.
After being diagnosed with cancer, she withdrew from teaching and began working as a baker. “Baking is like exercise for me,” Flora shares. Though she enjoys her life in New Zealand, she misses local foods like pudding, bonito, taro, and especially ngali nuts.
Passion for Teaching and Storytelling
In addition to baking, Flora has a passion for writing children’s stories, singing, dancing, and watching TV shows like Shortland Street and Home and Away.
Reflecting on her teaching career, Flora admits she was known for being strict. “I was hard on my students, but it was for their own good. Some of them are now lawyers, nurses, and teachers. I feel proud to have contributed to their success.”
Her passion for learning led her to pursue further studies in ECE in New Zealand. “I wanted to understand children better, so I went to New Zealand to study.”
A Message of Positivity
Flora’s final message to her followers is simple: stay happy and keep your inner spirit healthy. “Your inner spirit is like medicine. When you hold on to negativity and stress, it can make you sick. That’s why it’s so important to be positive and happy, and never forget God, because He is the source of true happiness.”
Flora Boboria left Solomon Islands last week to return to New Zealand and reunite with her family.
By Raymond Hulanga
Solomon Star, Honiara
