Doctorate Degree to honour mother

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 29 December 2017, 12:00AM

This year was a special year for Dr. Alo Silia Pa’usisi Finau from the villages of Safa’ato’a Lefaga and Sataoa Safata.

She completed her P.H.D. in Philosophy and graduated from the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand recently.

Surrounded by her family for the celebrations in Wellington, there was one key person that wasn’t there and Dr. Finau and her siblings felt her absence very deeply.  

Due to health reasons their mother, Asomaile Lepetiomalo Finau Pausisi, was unable to fly to New Zealand for the occasion.

According to Dr. Finau, their mother had been present at every graduation until now and with five children with three of them possessing multiple degrees – that is a lot of travelling for graduations.

“Mum was part of all of our graduations and the fact is that this qualification really means something to her. It’s great that she’s able to see it,” she said. “Even though she is not expressive enough to say that she’s happy, but her tears of joy really means that she is appreciative.”

A sad turn of events meant that Asomalie could not make her daughter’s recent graduation at the Victoria University of Wellington where Silia received a P.H.D in Philosophy.

“Mum couldn’t go to New Zealand to attend my graduation. It was just sad that she was not fit to fly so I decided to bring her in because this qualification is supposed to be for her. 

“Mum had a massive stroke which resulted in her being paralysed and she is now bedridden.”

The family has a strong traditional in pursing and achieving higher education with the endless support of their mother who pushed them to achieve at the highest levels at university.

 “Mum had that vision, she could see that in order for us to live life to the fullest, we have got to be well educated and she really worked hard for that. 

“It was mum who worked on the foundation of making sure that we were able to achieve these higher qualifications. Mum’s mission for all of us is that we should be well educated so that we can enjoy life.”

“Mum was able to see the significance of education for all of us. She’s like the backbone and the rock of the family. Although my siblings had taken a lot of photos at my graduation, I just thought that something was missing because mum wasn’t part of the celebration”

With multiple degrees under her belt, pursing her P.H.D in philosophy was something that she knew her mother would appreciate as well as compliment her career as a senior lecturer and H.O.D for the teacher’s education department at the faculty of education N.U.S

 “It should mean a lot to mum because mum is a woman of principles. She’s like very firm, very strong. She always disciplined us. No one ever messed around with mum.”

Dr. Alo Silia Pa’usisi Finau is a highly respected academic in Pacific Academia circles around the region and is looking forward to using all her knowledge and experience to train the next generation of educators.

 “I’m going to utilize my skills I got from my study to engage in training the teacher trainees. Philosophy to me is an all-encompassing concept; it’s very inclusive in the sense that you can apply it to every situation. 

“For somebody who is traditionally-oriented, I like the idea that I can blend in my cultural knowledge and values and morals in the teaching of the future teachers of Samoa.”

By Elizabeth Ah-Hi 29 December 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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