Hi, I’m Bernadine.
Welcome to Dine’s Ethos – my personal blog where I share reflections on law, life, and my journey back home to American Samoa.
I’m an attorney trying to find clarity. I moved back to American Samoa in January 2024, hoping to find fulfillment and the answers my soul desperately craved.
But life had other plans. After being diagnosed with ESRD, I had no choice but to return to the mainland.
I write about law school, practicing law on an island and in Utah, and the moments in between.
Welcome to my ethos.
I started this blog to share my law school experience and encourage other Samoans to pursue a career in law. This space also holds my journey as a first-generation attorney, navigating end-stage renal disease, and working through life’s dilemmas.
If you’re new here, these posts are a good place to begin:
I’m a planner. I map everything down to the smallest details—spreadsheets for trips, checklists for just about everything. My sisters might say I have a control problem. Lollll. Lordtttt. But man, when shit goes sideways, it really goes sideways.…
As I consider staying in American Samoa permanently, I’m realizing how much I’d be sacrificing. Living so far from my parents and sisters means missing out on family milestones, the little everyday moments, and even the mundane interactions that…
I’ve had several people reach out to me, wanting to discuss their interest in law school. They’re curious about my journey: Why did I choose to go to law school? What am I doing now? What challenges did I…
I just saw you in February. I cannot 😭 Praying for you Dine, you got this! Love to you and…
the last line .. all that love and in the midst of it all , it still makes you sad…
I appreciate you La’a. Always here if you need anything. Love you lots!
thank you for your hard work 🫶🏽 I know you-when you do something…you give it your all. So when you…
Dine's Ethos 
Wow. I read your message more than once, and every time, I felt the weight of your words like they…