A 24-year-old Samoan has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland. 

Sabrina Salome Wright Fanua was one of the many who graduated on Wednesday and now has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from last 2020 as well as the Bachelor of Arts Degree with First Class Honours.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Ms Fanua was elated with her achievement but it has been a long road to get to where she is at with her studies.

She said some of her challenges include being away from home and family which made it a challenge for her.

“Some of the challenges of studying at University were being away from home and being away from family,” she said.

“I guess many students can relate to this, sometimes you have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and try to support the family and it is even harder to continue studying when you lose a parent so suddenly.”

Ms Fanua was referring to her father, the late Tiatia Fanuaea Matoka whom she lost in 2018 and she dedicated her academic success to him.

“My father passed away in 2018, he is my motivation, kept me going with my school career for the past years,” she said. 

“I graduated with two degrees from last year and I dedicated it to my father and so as of this year this is for him as well, to be honest I miss him in times like this where a graduation ceremony is a day of joy for parents and children.

“My achievements are always dedicated to the memory of my late father who passed away a year just before I finished law school.”

Despite her challenges Ms Fanua said she is grateful for the opportunity and to be able to settle into a new life in New Zealand after moving from Samoa.

“A special thank you to everyone who took part in this journey with me, the good and bad day, the roughness and tough situation in school but I am so thankful for this, glory goes to God for everything he has given to me.

“Coming from Samoa and navigating a new life away from home was also hard, but like many others it was an opportunity to grow and be stretched to fulfill my potential, and I know many other Samoans who have embarked on the same journey.

“What I put in first in my life and during my school term for these years is to have faith in God, family and Fa’a-samoa were foundational aspects that kept us grounded also kept me grounded as well and that’s according to my mother’s voice.”

Ms Fanua concedes that her passion to know more about Pacific people and research motivated her to study, especially taking up legal studies.

“I love research, especially research that benefits Pacific people so I am hoping to do more of that in the near future, taking up law because I want to serve my family and the community.

“I also took law because my mum used to tell the stories of my uncle who was a lawyer and the love and service that my previous family members dedicated to our family, so I challenge myself that I can do this for my family especially my parents.”

A former student of Samoa College and Mangere College, she acknowledged the support of her family especially her mother, Faalogoifo and her siblings for standing by her throughout her journey.

Ms Fanua hails from the villages of Luatuanuu, Leusoalii, Salelologa, Gataivai and Tufutafoe, Savai’i.