First-Generation Student Breaks Barriers, Opens Door to Career in Politics
“My brother graduated from high school, and that’s the furthest education someone in my family has achieved,” Epapy said. “I wanted to break the educational barrier that has been in my family. I wanted to be the first one to go to college and open doors for my younger siblings, especially for my two younger sisters.”
A junior majoring in political science at the University of South Dakota, Epapy was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country in Central Africa. As a result of civil war and ongoing conflict, Epapy and his family were forced to move around Africa during his childhood. It wasn’t until he was in sixth grade that his family was able to seek asylum in the United States.
Epapy spent the first few years of his life in the U.S. in Spokane, Washington. When his parents struggled to find work, they relocated to Sioux Falls while Epapy stayed with his older brothers in Washington.
After a couple years, Epapy joined his parents and spent the remainder of his middle and high school years in Sioux Falls. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls in 2020.
It was in high school when Epapy realized he was interested in history and politics. Knowing the caliber of USD’s Department of Political Science, he determined that was where he wanted to go to school.
“I wanted to go to the University of South Dakota and study political science because I knew they had a great political science department, and that it would help me open doors that I never was able to before,” Epapy said.
“I realized USD was the place to be and that it would be a place where I could challenge myself and grow as a person.”
Although eager to take on a new challenge, Epapy understood that as a first-generation student he would have to conquer some things on his own. When he began applying for financial aid, he took it upon himself to research what documents he needed and how to properly fill out the application.
“Every time I would try to apply, I would get an email back saying that I was missing a document or that I needed to submit something else,” Epapy said of the process. “Nobody in my family has ever applied for financial aid, so doing it by myself was very tough. But I got through it.”
Aside from the logistical challenges of applying and preparing for college, Epapy also had internal doubts once he got to the university that left him questioning if higher education was really for him.
“As a first-year student, I often had thoughts of ‘Do I belong here?’ because I was the first one in my family to ever be at this point,” Epapy said. “But overall, as time went by, I began to accept this challenge and told myself that I could get through it.”
While navigating the college experience as a first-generation student, Epapy received meaningful support from USD’s TRIO Student Support Services, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education dedicated to helping eligible first-generation and low-income students as well as students with disabilities reach their academic goals.
“Since my freshman year, TRIO has helped me settle in at USD,” Epapy said. “Anything that I needed, they worked with me to ensure that I was in the right environment to succeed. They helped me grow and succeed at the university.”
Epapy has not only achieved success during his time at USD, but he has excelled. As a junior, he accepted a position as the regional political director for the South Dakota Republican Party. In this role, he has been able to work alongside some of the most influential political leaders in the state, including Gov. Kristi Noem and Sen. John Thune.
“After getting this job, I just looked at myself and thought, wow, I really went from a kid with nothing to someone who is sitting with important political figures,” Epapy said. “That has been one of the proudest moments of my life.
“This job has opened doors for me and has allowed me to grow my knowledge in politics,” he continued. “I’ve gotten to meet incredible people, and the people I work with have given me great advice and have provided me with so many tools to use in the future.”
As the regional political director, Epapy is responsible for collecting data on voter preferences, communicating with local candidates and talking to voters across the state. Epapy’s also serves as a consultant, helping political candidates engage with voters and win elections.
Epapy has also developed his political science knowledge and leadership skills through his involvement in campus organizations. He currently serves as the secretary for the USD College Republicans and has also been a leader of USD’s Soccer Club, serving as vice president and helping the team reach new levels of achievement.
Behind Epapy is his mother, who has given everything she has to ensure that Epapy is in the best position possible to have a successful future. Growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his mother struggled to get a solid primary education.
She funded her own education, selling items like fish and fruits at the market and working long hours to earn money to pay for schooling. When the funds went toward meeting basic needs like food and clothing, her education got pushed to the side.
“There were times where she could not afford to pay her school fees, so she would get kicked out. Then, when she would make the money again, she’d go back,” Epapy said. “Sometimes, she’d miss three or four months of school, and that was really tough for her.”
After coming to the U.S., life for Epapy and his family got easier, but it wasn’t perfect. His mother still had to work extremely hard, often working 12-hour shifts to put food on the table for him and his siblings. It is her hard work and dedication that has driven Epapy to do the things he’s doing today.
“She’s such a hard worker and has shaped me to become a hard worker as well,” Epapy said. “Just seeing my mom work really hard every day motivated me to do something with my life because I knew she was doing that all for her kids.”
After completing his degree at USD, Epapy plans to pursue a career in politics and hopes his career gives him the opportunity to change people’s lives. He said he wants to help people feel valued and inspire them to “do something incredible beyond what they think they’re capable of.
“All I have to say, is that I could not do any of this without the U.S. This country has given me equal opportunities to compete and to succeed. It has given me so many tools to help me achieve my goals and become who I want to be in the future,” he added. “I love this country, and my family does too."
Epapy feels an especially strong pull to South Dakota. He said the people he has met while in the state have changed his life, and he is thankful for all the opportunities that have be presented to him and his family in the Mount Rushmore state.
“I definitely see myself residing in South Dakota, and the reason is the people,” Epapy said. “South Dakota feels like home to me, whether it’s Yankton, Vermillion or Sioux Falls, I just feel home. I want to continue to contribute to the state and make it a better place. It’s already an incredible place, I just want to leave it better than when I came.”
Read more first-generation student stories.
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