Being a Samoan, you’re basically known as “big” and on some rare occasions “big-boned”, but just being a Pacific Islander in general you’re known as “big”. But why must we live up to that stereotype? Is it the type of environment that we live in? The community? Or can we blame it on the ancestors from generations before us?  We, as Pacific Islanders, don’t have to live up to that stereotype. We can make a difference in not only our lives, but in the lives of generations after us. Like President Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”-BARACK OBAMA, speech, Feb. 5, 2008 (http://www.notable-quotes.com/o/obama_barack.html)

Pacific Islanders of the East Palo Alto and East Menlo community and… well all over the world… it is time for a CHANGE! We shouldn’t be bound by our weight. We are too young to be living with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or being short of breath just because we're walking a short distance. It’s time we take a fighting chance and break through all the stereotypes that are being said about Pacific Islanders being big. It’s time we start eating healthy and getting active!

Why must we, by the age of 17, be nearly 200 pounds? Is that really necessary for our race?  I dislike the fact that Samoans being big is looked at as a good thing-in order to benefit the football or rugby team! Why can’t we be healthy and still be looked at as benefiting the team?

I for one am a 17-year-old Samoan girl that resides in East Palo Alto and it saddens me when I see our youth nearly as big as their parents; not only the youth but the older folks as well. As a Pacific Islander it seems that we keep on proving everyone that all we’re good for is eating. Now I understand that we always joke around about us being hungry, but maybe we should approach that from a different angle.  All this joking around may be our insecurities that we wear on our sleeves; a burden that we carry around with us constantly.

To all my Polynesian brothers and sisters I write this because I am concerned about the direction our race is going and the food choices that we are making. I am not here to force you to eat healthy, however, I am trying to convince you all to try it. Fruits and vegetables can taste good. If you dislike the taste of a certain vegetable or fruit, maybe we need to try new ones and cook them in new and interesting ways that aren't high in saturated fat. It’ll grant you with a longer life and more energy. I honestly will admit that, yes, I don’t always make the best food choices but I am trying to make an impact-not only on the Polynesian community but on my younger siblings.

I hope you all would take in consideration what I said above and rethink about eating your problems away or buying that extra large popcorn from the movie theaters. Eat by portions and if you have a problem you could always go and play a game of football or basketball. I end this wishing you all one love and happiness.