Gov Lemanu commends UH Manoa grads for their perseverance

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A total of 54 graduates crossed off another goal of their academic achievements when they received their degrees from the University of Hawai’i Manoa’s College of Education 4th PACMED Cohort on last week at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei.

A statement issued confirmed that a total of 54 graduates received various degree, such as Doctor of Philosophy in Learning Design and Technology; Master in Economics.

A total of 49 graduates received a Master of Education in Interdisciplinary Education, Curriculum Studies; one received a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration, Management and Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education.

Governor Lemanu P. S Mauga was the keynote speaker and highlighted the theme ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you wish to go far, go together.’

 “I find that there is an implied task in this saying that needs to be brought forward; a missing part of the equation.

 “It is true that you can go fast when you go alone, and that you will travel far when you go together, but how will you measure both if you don’t know where you are headed?

 “Therefore, the implied task that I speak of is that you must identify a destination,” said Governor.

Adding that life is a voyage and one chooses how to navigate through the waves.

 “But without a destination, how will we measure the success of our journey,” he asked.

 “When you started this program, you jumped two feet in. “You chose this golden opportunity to earn this degree. Then somewhere down the road, you doubted your ability to carry on.

 “Life got harder, your environment was unstable, fa’alavelave, COVID outbreak, your children stayed home from school, your duties in your families, villages, and church, and on top of all of that, you still had your day job as a teacher.

 “You alone chose how to weather each storm; you contemplated giving up at some point, and you even lost some people along the way. But you had a goal, and today, you have arrived at this destination point, and we can measure the success of this particular journey.”

He urged the graduates to remember those who have helped you along the way: your family, your church, and members of your community.

 “You can say, you’ve made it! You have achieved something together, a far stretched goal that you once thought was out of reach.

 “I extend a big Faamalo to each of you. “You have struggled together, you have fought to carry on despite all the challenges you have faced.

 “May your resilience be a beacon of light to the future generations of American Samoa,” said governor.