Winnie Atuatasi, a 24-year-old, shared with Samoa News, about a teacher who asked her students what they wanted to be when they graduated. There were only two answers and it was either to join the military or be a teacher.

This got Winnie realizing that there are many other options than just being a teacher or joining the military, with or without a degree.

American Samoa is noted for having the highest rate of military enlistment of any U.S. State or Territory. As of September 2014, the local U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Pago Pago was ranked first in production out of the 885 Army recruiting stations and centers straight out of high school.

THE JOURNEY TO OWNING A COFFEE SHOP

Atuatasi says that throughout her travels straight out of high school she visited different countries and found her love of coffee houses. The atmosphere, music, and the coffee seemed like the type of place she envisions to be in on a daily basis.

From Pago Pago, she returned home in 2012 and was hired on by Downtown Coffee Shop to teach the workers to be “baristas” and to make better coffee, and of course — not forgetting — to earn some money.

When the Samoana High School graduate of Class of 2011 caught wind that the coffee shop was closing in year 2014, it got her thinking about her passion. “I was at a mission school in Kona, Hawai’i, and I learnt how to make coffee there, and even traveled to other countries like South Korea where coffee was everywhere and I just loved the atmosphere at all these coffee shops,” Winnie told Samoa News.

Winnie’s mother, Aliitasi Roberts, heard about it and knew this would best fit her daughter, as Winnie has always wanted a Coffee House. “Our family already owned another business, and seeing that Winnie did some studying, me and my husband thought this would be great for her to run the Coffee House.”

That dream became real thanks to some good timing. Atuatasi was more than thankful to have supportive parents who brought up the idea for her to use her talents.

With the help of her parents to buy the Coffee Shop, she has learned a lot from the experience — how to make it much more different and better.

Atuatasi said the shop, which she and her husband named, “Yahweh”, is Jewish for “God, Lord, Heavenly Father”. The young entrepreneur chose the name to infuse the area with a cheery brightness giving all glory to God for the continuous blessings in her life. “I wanted a name dedicated to God, because I know I would have not received this without his help.”

Being a business owner has taught her a lot about hard work and dedication. “It’s like when you open the shop, you cannot just close it in the middle of the week just because you’re sick. You have to keep it going, to build it, because its something you love and want to continue to share,” she said.

Yahweh Coffee House has been open going on two years now. It started off slow but the Coffee House has caught many visitors’ and locals’ eyes so that Winnie and her workers have extended its opening hours until 8pm in the evening.

 “We decided to open late because we were starting to get people who finished work late and want a quick bite. It is such a great spot too because we have the Fono, DOH, Social Services, the market, so people are noticing it more and have come to relax and enjoy the “Lord’s” Coffee House,” says Winnie.

A Fono employee, a regular, told Samoa News, “I get so busy at work I don’t have time to go anywhere to eat so it helps that I can call them to make an order and then pick up my favorite tuna melt sandwich when it’s ready. It’s a great place with great food.”

When asked what was the people’s favorite meal, “Our most common one is the chili with the sweet muffin, or the bacon bagel, which not many make on island, and the red soup. People love these.”

Winnie says she’s planning her next move — to open another branch on the West side. “I get amazed to see some of the people who live on the West come all this way to get their coffee fix or a bite so I am thinking of opening one on that side.”

“There is so much to do in this life for the younger generation. I see a lot of talented musicians, artists, designers, cooks, etc. who can definitely make a difference to our community and use those talents. Just because you don’t have a degree doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. I don’t have a degree and I now have my own business. You can definitely do so much with what you love for our community.”

For more information check out Yahweh Coffee House on Facebook or just visit them.