HPU community provides a place for spiritual and personal growth
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LINK / SPRING 2019
By Rebekah Sterling ’18 “I liked getting to experience other states,” said Foga’a, “because, even though we’re all in the same country, every environment is different.” Although she enjoyed experiencing different places, Foga’a admitted she was unsure about committing to a college. “I knew college would be a four-year experience,” she said. “I’ve never lived anywhere more than a short amount of time so I was excited for it, but I also had doubts because I didn’t know how I would cope with it.” Athletic training, which has had an important place in Foga’a’s life since high school, is the reason she initially chose to attend HPU. “One of my high school certified athletic trainers knew that I was interested in training,” said Foga’a. “He suggested Howard Payne, because that was where he previously worked. It was one of the first places I toured and it was the perfect fit for me.” Foga’a is now in her second year in HPU’s
H OWA R D PAY N E U N I V E R S I T Y
PHOTO BY JARVIS GREEN
For most incoming students, the frequently asked question “Where are you from?” is a simple one to answer. They respond with the place they were born or where they attended high school. For others, however, the answer can be a little more complicated. This was the case for Foga’a SolomonaAfoa, a junior athletic training major and biomedical sciences minor, who grew up in a military family. “Before Howard Payne, I was a military child so we moved a lot,” said Foga’a. “I usually tell people I’m from wherever my dad happens to be stationed, but sometimes that can be confusing for them.” Foga’a was born in California, but spent the first few years of her childhood living with her grandparents in American Samoa, a small island in the South Pacific. When she moved back in with her parents, she lived a life on the move. Foga’a and her family spent time in several different states including California, Hawaii, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Story and art
