A year ago Felicia Lily Ott said she wanted to be an engineer when she became St Mary's College dux. This year she has taken another step towards that goal as she was declared the top student of the National University of Samoa foundation programme.

The 18-year-old said she was excited and humbled to receive the award.

“I am thankful for my parents for they were the ones to support me every step of the way, my mom Margeret Ott is the one who always drops and picks me up from school and my father Achatz Peter Ott is always the one to tell me that failure is just the beginning and there is always something after that,” she said.

“I would say there are a lot of challenges I faced during my journey, especially during exams season. There was lots of stress and you are anxious and it's my parents and the Lord who helped put me through this.

“There are times that I guess I didn’t know what to do next and school just felt overwhelming. And every time I pray it helps take off the anxiety and the nervousness."

Felicia's goal of becoming an engineer still lives on. She hopes to get a scholarship. She said she was looking at the option of being either a Chemical or Environmental engineer. 

"Engineering itself is so much fun. It is amazing and interesting. I love learning and I am very excited to pursue my dream of being an engineer,” she added.

"Never give up" is Felicia's motto. This message would constantly be relayed to her by her mother whenever Felicia would think she could never do it.

Felicia was also the recipient of the following awards;

• Business Systems Ltd Award for Top Foundation Technology Student
• The Late Asi Lauano Ausage Decca Pa’u Award for top Equal Foundation Mathematics Student.
• Samoa IT Association Award
• Samoa Stationery and Books Award for Top Equal Foundation Computing Student.
• Samoa Stationery and Books Award
• Late Patrick Buckley Award for top Equal Foundation Chemistry Student.
• Business System Ltd Award for Top Foundation Physics Student.
• Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa Award for Top Foundation Science Student
• Hon. Misa Telefoni Retzlaff award for Top Overall Foundation Programme Student.