Ilaisaane Vakalahi Per.5ME AS A METAPHOR

MY CULTURE

• My pride in my culture is what divines what type of person I want to be and become. I am a full Tongan and the first generation here in America in my family. Tongan blood flows through my veins.

MY FAMILY

• My family is my lifeline. I am the eldest of 8 kids and I love it. I have a very large family and I love it. “When you look at your life, the greatest happiness is family happiness. ~Joyce Brothers

Volleyball

• I have been playing volleyball for more than 6 years and once a ball is in my hands I have to start playing. This sport taught me a lot of things that not any person could. “Life is short, play hard.”

My music

• I listen to Reggae all the time and this was thanks to my dad. I think I was listening to it when I was born. It’s just always been apart of me and my life.

Ukulele

• I have been playing the ukulele and always been around them for most of my life and in my family and friends, when a ukulele is out it is time to sing. JAM SESSION!!

• The first movie I ever remember seeing was a movie about a Panda and I have loved them ever since. I am calm and gentle when I see them.

• I love the NZ All blacks team and grew up learning about the team and the sport of Rugby. It is a thing that me and my dad spend a lot of time watching. Sonny Bill Williams is my favorite player on the team.

• The Utah mountains are like my spirit. Free and reaching higher and higher to touch the sky. Everywhere I look I see them and see me and my freedom in the process.

• I love to keep my mind as open as the petals of this ‘mea’he’matala’ (Island flower). An open mind broadens my horizons and outlook on life and keeps me perceptive to the things around me and to the people I associate with.

• My integrity and compassion is as solid and free-flowing as the pacific ocean where my ancestors are from and is the birthplace of my culture. My future is also as broad as the horizon that falls over that ocean.