Father and daughter graduation for Seiuli
family
Samoan father and daughter and
University of Waikato students Dr Byron Malaela Sotiata
Seiuli and Alisha Makerita-Nai Seiuli will graduate together
in April.
It will be Byron Seiuli’s fourth
graduation and Alisha Seiuli’s first, but in April
they’ll graduate together at one of the University of
Waikato’s graduation ceremonies.
On 16 April, Alisha
will graduate at Claudelands Event Centre with a Bachelor of
Communication Studies, and on 17 April, she will graduate
with a Bachelor of Social Sciences majoring in Psychology at
Te Kohinga Mārama Marae. Her dad Byron will graduate with
her on that day with a PhD in Psychology.
Relatives and
church friends from around New Zealand will gather in
Hamilton to support and celebrate this family
achievement.
After the 2009 tsunami that affected much of
Samoa, Byron and Alisha spent time there working with
churches, hospitals and villages. Byron says that from this
experience came his doctoral research topic of examining
cultural rituals involved in Samoan death practices and
recovery.
“I began thinking about doing a PhD when
Alisha was only 14, so it gives me great pride to now be
graduating with her,” he says. “I’m really excited for
Alisha. To complete two degrees in four years is phenomenal
but she’s worked hard and has had scholarships throughout
to help her financially. I’ve been able to be here both as
a parent and mentor for her because I’ve been involved in
study for a long time.”
Alisha began her studies at
Waikato in 2011, just before her 16th birthday. Now she has
a job at Lugton’s Real Estate where she works as an
administration manager and executive
assistant.
“Everything I learned when I was studying
really flowed on into the job,” she says. “It’s a
great graduate position to get me started and I hope to move
into other roles as time goes on.”
Byron says he is the
first person of Pacific descent to graduate with a PhD from
Psychology at the University of Waikato where he also
teaches, and he hopes his achievement will pave the way for
other Pacific people.
He sees his role as being parent
support not only for his daughter, but for other Pacific
students coming through the University as well.
“This is
my way of saying to other parents that our success is a
Pacific success, and I’m here for others as a guide and a
mentor. You’re never too young or too old to start on your
academic
journey.”
Ends