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Featured Faces: Josh Comia Celebrates AAPI Heritage
May 8, 2024
Hibbett and City Gear are nothing without the communities we serve, that's why this AAPI month, we are honoring our customers and associates from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities with a few featured stories that highlight the beauty of their cultures and storied heritage. Meet Josh Comia!
Josh:My name is Josh Comia. I’m 22 yrs old, and I enjoy working out, swimming, traveling, and video games.
I’m currently working as an Associate Software Engineer at Moody’s Investors Service for almost 2 years now while also modeling with my agency Directions USA for a little less than a year.
Josh:I am Filipino. Both my parents immigrated to the US from the Philippines as young adults. I was eventually born in New York and grew up in Staten Island.
Josh: My heritage heavily influenced my life. My mom would always cook traditional filipino foods growing and still to this day whenever I come home to visit. I had a lot of extended family live near me, so we would always have big parties throughout the year with a bunch of traditional food as well.
My parents spoke Tagalog and English to me growing up so I can understand some of the language pretty well, but unfortunately I’m unable to speak it. Hopefully, that will change in the future. Coming from a town where a majority of the people don’t share the same racial and ethnic backgrounds as myself, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of being the odd one out.
However, this made me embrace and appreciate my culture even more, especially as I got older, where I realized the value and importance of my background.
Josh: Family is a big virtue held within Filipino culture. Growing up, there were many family gatherings held so we can all spend time with each other.
For Filipinos specifically, it’s never a true party until the karaoke mics are brought out and an entire performance is put on in front of all the relatives. My parents have taught me to always be grateful and humble for all the blessings and privileges that I have received in my life, and our heritage is a big influence in their teachings.
Food is also seen as a great blessing as well, so I’m always taught to never waste it. Filipino recipes also use a variety of different ingredients, which has taught me to always be open to trying new foods.
Josh: Sometimes, I’d either cook or bake filipino recipes to share with my friends at a gathering. Jokingly, I’d like to point out anyone or anything that is Filipino-related and trending because I’m proud of my heritage and would like to show it off at every chance I get. Also, if anyone ever has a question regarding my culture, I’d always love to have an in-depth conversation with them about the topic.
Josh: The way I celebrate AAPI month is by making sure that my friends who are part of the community are heard and seen especially during this time, whether it’s in person or through social media. I also enjoy hearing about everyone’s different backgrounds and ethnicities throughout this month because I love to learn new things about each culture.
Josh: Highlighting the community during this time makes us feel seen, heard, and honestly appreciated that we simply exist. I know for me, personally, it’s hard to have those feelings on a regular basis since we are a minority group. But having people put a focus on our community really helps us embrace and share our different cultures outwardly and openly with the rest of the world.
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