A young Samoan woman with links to Samalaeulu in Savai'i has made her family proud by graduating with a double degree with honours from an Australian university.

Marina Dowie, 23, passed her study programme and graduated recently with a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Criminology/Criminal Law with honours from Griffith University in Queensland.

Ms. Dowie is the daughter of Paul and Falenaoti Suilolo Dowie who is from Samalaeulu, Savai'i and is the youngest of two children. 

Having graduated recently from Griffith University, she was blessed to have her grandparents, Tuala Peseta Niko and Sita Maleko travel all the way from Samalaeulu, especially for her graduation.

Ms. Dowie said Jesus was the driving force behind her accomplishing her goal of successfully completing her study programme and had the honour of representing her family on the podium to receive her degrees

“Graduation day was an amazing day of being able to stand in front of my extended family, and feel tremendous honour at being able to represent our family in a distinguished profession such as law,” she said. “To make my family proud and make the most of opportunities that my elders did not have when they were young. 

"My driving force was Jesus, who blessed me with the constant love and strength to walk this journey."

Ms. Dowie currently works for the Australian national law firm Turner Freeman Lawyers and revealed that recently she was offered a position as a lawyer.

“I am currently working as a graduate lawyer at Turner Freeman Lawyers and will now be taking up an offer of a position as a lawyer at Turner Freeman Lawyers at their Gold Coast office.”

She believes she is following in the footsteps of her elder brother, Denzel Dowie who in 2019 also graduated with honours together with his Bachelor of Engineering degree. 

Her success has not gone unnoticed with her father Paul Dowie saying he was proud of his daughter's determination and is elated at her success. 

“We are extremely proud of the hard work and determination that Marina has displayed on her journey of higher education,” he said. “It is truly a blessing from God that we as a family are able to celebrate such an amazing achievement.”