Mother and daughter Sootino Salaevalu Taungakava and Sootino Marcallonlani Taungakava had their names called out one after another as they received accolades from the University of the South Pacific on Friday.

Sootino Salaevalu Taungakava, 57, proudly graduated with a Master’s degree in Agriculture. The occasion was sweeter as her daughter Sootino Marcallonlani Taungakava, 24, also received her Postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture.

Sootino was also honoured with the award for Top Samoan Master’s Student Thesis. 

Sootino Salaevalu Taungakava expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Kingdom of Tonga and the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for their sponsorship and support throughout her academic journey.

“Thank you so much. This is like another great achievement for me and my family, my daughter as well. And we are very grateful,” said Sootino. 

Speaking as an academic and a devout Christian, Sootino emphasised the importance of faith in her journey.

 “We are so deeply honoured to have this opportunity to continue our education. And for me, as a lecturer at NUS, I would like to ask God to continue to help me, to fill me up with His Holy Spirit, so He can always lead me in everything I do. And may everything I do glorify His mighty name,” she shared.

 “May His Holy Spirit continue to lead me in my future career as a teacher, as a person who wants to make a change, and as a farmer, because I am a farmer too.”

Sootino also took a moment to express her pride and love for her daughter, who graduated alongside her. “Well, only God knows how I feel, but I am so grateful. I am deeply grateful,” she said.

"Well, I have forgotten about all those struggles. I am looking forward to moving forward.  I don't want to look back; otherwise, I will turn into a pillar of salt,” 

Sootino, a proud Samoan who has been happily married to a Tongan and is a mother of five, has spent the past 23 years living in Tonga before returning to Samoa in 2020. Upon her return, she resumed her academic journey, completing her postgraduate studies and now celebrating the achievement of her Master’s degree in Agriculture. 

Currently a lecturer at the National University of Samoa, she continues to inspire her students and her children. Her eldest is pursuing a medical degree, her second daughter, 24-year-old Sootino Marcallonlani graduated alongside her on Friday, while her third child is undertaking foundation studies at NUS, and her youngest is in Year 12 at Robert Louis Stevenson College.

Graduating side by side with her mother was a deeply emotional and proud moment for 24-year-old Sootino, who received her Postgraduate Diploma in Agriculture. 

“It's a blessing, it's one of my biggest blessings and I thank God for that. I’m over the moon, I can't explain it but I'm just so happy, and overwhelmed,” she said.

“My dad's not here but he's so happy for us, and to stand along her and my name after her, she's building a bar very high for me to climb.”

Now pursuing her Master's degree, she said the journey ahead is exciting and challenging. 

“I'm currently doing my masters as well while graduating with my postgraduate degree alongside her, and I just can't wait for what's going to happen next.”