Rapp and Epenesa are making a difference by taking pride in representing where they come from, and teaching others about it as well. May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month.
It’s a time to learn more about the cultures that make up the group, as well as recognize the contributions and influence that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have had on our history, culture, and achievements.
“I tried a lot to learn about my culture and about the people from the island,” Epenesa said of his Samoan roots. “That’s where my dad’s from. That’s where he was born and raised. And he did the best he could to give us knowledge about what it’s like back home, the values and the morals that we have and just the way that we go about life. So, I try to hold those near and dear because those are things I try to be like in my life.”
“I learned it at a very young age from my mom and then my grandparents, who are her parents, just being rooted in Chinese values,” Rapp explained. “It’s about knowing where you come from, what you started from, being humble, being kind and a good person.”
The two believe there are many values people can learn from their cultures and apply to their daily lives.
“I think the biggest thing in our culture is respect and that’s whether it’s to your elders, to people you don’t know, to people who are in a higher or lower position,” Epenesa explained. “It’s all about treating everybody with respect, and I try to act that way every day.”
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at News…