In 2016, Dominic Sofe was called up by the Government of Samoa to pack his bags and take up a diplomatic post in the city that never sleeps.

The young public servant was appointed as Samoa’s First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Independent State of Samoa to the United Nations in New York. While the move was exciting, it was also daunting. But, as had always been the case throughout his life, there was one constant that steadied his heart and spirit: the voice of his mother, the late Margaret Fruean Misiolo Sofe.

From the earliest memories of his childhood in Samoa, Dominic recalls that it was his mother’s determination, discipline, and deep faith that anchored their large family. As the seventh of nine children to Fualau Misiolo Sofe and Margaret, Dominic’s path was shaped early on by his mother’s resilience and determination.

Education was not negotiable, it was a calling. Her voice, always firm but loving, rang clear through the small family home: “You go to school not just for yourself, but for your future, for your family, for Samoa.”

Dominic’s school journey began humbly, tagging along to Sunday School and after-school sessions at the Pastor’s house, where his older siblings learned to read, write, and sing. From Apia Lower Primary School, through Apia Middle and Leifiifi Intermediate, Dominic’s academic journey was marked by consistency, drive, and his mother’s presence at every turn, whether physically or spiritually.

“Mum never missed prize-giving,” Dominic shared. “Even if she had to stand in the back or just wait for us outside, she was always there.”

After securing a place at Samoa College, the top public college at the time, Dominic continued to excel. He found a passion for social studies, a love for rugby, and was named a school prefect in his final year, a testament to his leadership and character. Behind each achievement was his mother’s encouragement, both spoken and unspoken, urging him forward.

After passing the Pacific Senior School Certificate (PSSC) exam, Dominic earned a scholarship to study in New Zealand. At 17, he boarded a plane to Wellington, and with little money to spare, his mother still made the journey to settle him in.

“She was my strength,” Dominic sayid. “She reminded me that I was there for a purpose, and that even though I was far from home, I carried all of them with me.”

University life was difficult at first. Homesickness crept in. His first-year results were sobering. But Dominic dug in, leaning on the values his mother instilled: resilience, humility, and faith. He joined the Old Boys University rugby club, found a job supporting other international students, and slowly rebuilt his confidence.

“I could hear Mum in my head telling me to get back up and try again,” he recalled.

When he graduated from Victoria University of Wellington, his mother was again by his side. As always, her pride was quiet as she whispered, “Congratulations” and a prayer of thanks.

Dominic returned to Samoa to begin work as a Foreign Service Officer. It didn’t take long before he was posted to New York. There, under the mentorship of High Commissioner Le Afioga Feturi Elisaia, he flourished. Their shared love for rugby and humble service mirrored the values he was raised with.

He also found love in New York, meeting Luz Andújar, a Counsellor at the Dominican Republic Mission to the United Nations. Their love story blossomed between high-level negotiations and quiet coffee meetings. They now have a son, Liam Tautuamalealofa Sofe.

When Luz was accepted to Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Dominic became her biggest supporter. Watching her graduate, even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, stirred something within him. With encouragement from his family and especially his mother, Dominic began to consider postgraduate study himself.

After two years of research, conversations, and emotional prep, he applied and was accepted. But as he reached the final semester of his Master's in Public Administration, the unimaginable happened.

Back in Samoa, his mother’s health had deteriorated. She had developed another cancer, leukemia, which was now terminal. Dominic flew back home with his wife and child when his family was told there was nothing more to be done. He was able to be by her side in her final days.

“She had always been there for my milestones, and I needed to be there for her,” he said.

The loss was devastating. Returning to New York after the funeral, Dominic admits he came close to giving up. “I would sit in class or try to write papers, and I couldn’t see the point,” he shared. “But then I would hear her voice, ‘Keep going. You’re almost there.’”

That voice, the same one that ushered him into Sunday School, guided him through national exams, settled him in a foreign land, and celebrated his wins in silence and carried him through the toughest months of his life.

Now, in 2025, Dominic has become the first Samoan to graduate from Columbia University’s SIPA (School of International and Public Affairs). The achievement, while deeply personal, is also one of collective pride, for his family, for his community, and above all, for his late mother.

“This one is for her,” he said. “She was there for every step of the journey. I know she’s still with me, cheering me on from beyond.”

From a humble island upbringing to the Ivy League, Dominic’s story is one of persistence, love, and the immeasurable power of a mother's belief.