Graduate puts his mother first and graduates from hospital

Degree graduate puts his mother first and graduates from hospital

Palauni Madar graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Whitireia New Zealand last week. His attendance at the polytechnic degree ceremony happened over the phone from hospital.

Palauni was as excited about his graduation as the rest of his classmates. Three long years completing his degree, the ceremony would be a large celebration of the completion of this life stage. Whitireia graduation ceremonies are well known for the spontaneous haka and Pacific songs celebrating success in a family.

Palauni’s mother has been very unwell, and this graduate made a decision a few days out to orchestrate his moment of glory slightly differently. Once Palauni established his mother could not attend the ceremony, he looked for a way to involve her, to provide a way for his mother to be involved and share her pride at her son’s achievements.

Palauni hired and collected his regalia as expected. At 1pm on Thursday 24 March, Palauni visited his mother in hospital, wearing his gown, trencher and Whitireia hood.

As his class began crossing the stage in te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua City, Palauni’s sister phoned her brother as he sat by his mother’s bedside. Both put their cell phones on speaker function. Palauni’s name was called out. There was a short pause, as the name-reader (who had been party to this request) registered the non-attendance and moved onto the next name. Palauni’s mother squeezed her son’s hand.

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