“It wasn’t until I first came to The University of the South Pacific Samoa Campus that I learned the significance of attaining a degree that is recognised worldwide.”
This was the experience shared by Salvadeos Teevao Toleafoa who recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (Applied Science).
Ms Toleafoa said her first time at USP was during the Open Day in 2016 and it was then that she learned about the different sponsorships and scholarships offered at different levels of education within the University.
“I felt inspired and later decided to enrol at USP for Foundation studies and university life was nothing like I ever expected which is why I am grateful for the people who stood beside me throughout the journey,” she added.
The new graduate also acknowledged the friends she made along the way who were from different walks of life around the region.
In Semester 2 of 2017, Ms Toleafoa was offered a partial scholarship by The Rotary Club of Apia which largely helped with her school fees at the time. When she finished Foundation, she moved on to undertake a Bachelor of Agriculture in Applied Science and was one of 20 recipients of the Samoa Government scholarships.
Throughout her degree, Ms Toleafoa was a member of the USPSA for two years in a row, a PASS Leader for three semesters, and debated in all the debate series from 2017-2021.
Today, she works as a college teacher and is taking a gap year from studies hoping to continue next year to pursue her Postgraduate Diploma in either Agriculture Crop Science or Climate Change.
Ms Toleafoa hopes to inspire the younger generation, particularly those from the South Pacific, to pursue Agricultural Science because it is such an important part of our daily lives.
