Three Samoa College alumni who among this year’s scholarship award recipients hope their success will become an inspiration to others following in their footsteps.

Vatapuiaoalii Kathline Meredith, Asiasiga Naseri and Alden Godinet Jr said they are proud to be former Samoa College students as over half of the scholarships went to graduates from the country’s oldest secondary school.

Ms Meredith said they are happy that they have made their college proud through their achievements.

“To my younger cousins and upcoming Samconians who will be taking Foundation next year, really look into your social groups and your friends because as you go further and further it will get harder and harder,” she said.

Discussed what laid ahead for them following the completion of the National University of Samoa’s Foundation Studies programme, Ms Meredith and Mr Naseri told the Samoa Observer that it was a proud moment for them, knowing how far they have come in their pursuit of academic excellence.

“Almost half of the scholarships were received by former Samoa college students,” Mr Naseri said.

Ms Meredith added that facing obstacles was a part of the journey. 

“In highschool, our graduation theme was, ‘Flip the page, highlight your goals, and write your stories’ and that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to keep writing our stories,” she added.

“Don't think that the obstacles that you face in school are small. Whether they be academic challenges or friend problems, that's all part of your story.” 

Their colleague Alden Godinet Jr expressed similar sentiments, when reminiscing on the journey he has taken in order to get a scholarship. 

“I pushed myself after that semester and managed to get myself an Australian scholarship, which was so shocking to me, so I took my chance when I got it,” he added.

The secret to his success, he said, was going to the library and staying true to his studies with the help of his father.

He will join Ms Meredith at the Monash University in Melbourne studying biomedical science.