By Martha Taumata Faavae
Easter Commemoration will never be the same again like this year for the National University of Samoa top medical graduate last Wednesday.
Six years of medical studies were well rewarded for Dr. Fiona Seumanutafa as the top medical graduate with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree.
Dr. Seumanutafa also distinguished herself at the Le Papaigalagala Campus during a packed graduation at the NUS gymnasium, by walking away with top student awards in emergency medicine, anesthesia, internal medicine, paediatrics and surgery.
The single mom from Falealupo, Savaii, admitted afterwards that her studies were not easy going.
‘I never thought I’d win all these awards and to me they are gifts from God for this Holy Easter celebration,” Dr. Seumanutafa believed.
Early education for her started in her home village in Savaii of Falealupo and she found the juggle between school work and home chores a difficult one at the time.
Her secondary education continued in Apia when she enrolled at the Leifiifi College and onwards to the National University of Samoa.
“My early university study hurdle was when I became pregnant in my first year and doing studies in my pregnant condition was a big challenge.
“But the responsibility of my baby’s future became a driving force for me in my studies. I believe in this life we should be dependent on ourselves and not on others for our daily livelihood.”
Dr. Seumanutafa believes in her faith that medicine is a calling for her from God who made it all possible for her to be success with her studies.
At the same time too she credited the support of her parents and her whole family.
“As a single mother I want to drive home the message to all mothers, never give up of your education even when you have children, our good future depends on it.”
Dr. Seumanutafa is one of three medical graduates from the University this year and is currently serving at the TTM Hospital as a surgeon.