"I loved school, but I wasn't always a model student.
"When I thought things were unfair or dumb I was quite vocal about it."
She wanted to study all of the subjects, but on the advice of her parents chose science.
When she graduated, teaching was far from her radar, she wanted to work as a marine biologist.
"There was only one research ship in New Zealand at the time, so I went to get an application pack and the guy said to me, 'you can't have this job girlie' and when I asked why he said 'because there's only one toilet on the boat and all the crew and scientists are men'."
He wouldn't give her an application pack.
"In those days, there was no ban on sexual discrimination.
"I decided after being turned down for the marine research ship, that I'd like to do social work. When I went in, I was told I needed to get some practical life experience first and that teaching was a good way to get down to earth, practical experience."
Meanwhile her high school sweetheart Des had moved away to study medicine at Otago.
"I was miserable and he was miserable and for the first time in his life he didn't pass an exam. It was because he missed me so much he said.
"Both sets of parents were quite keen when I said I'd like to go down and do my teacher training in Dunedin."
They were married at the start of her first year in teacher's college.
In 1973 Epp was sent for the first time as a teacher to a primary school in Mosgiel.
"I was just excited, I had spent the whole summer break preparing."
Epp's first class was made up of 35 Year 6 pupils and after a senior teacher broke both legs in a fall, found herself in sole charge of the classroom.
"I think teaching is a very privileged job.
"It's hard work and it's emotionally taxing and physically taxing, but at the beginning of each year, it's just magic."
After three years teaching in Dunedin, Epp's husband had finished medical school and applied for work in Tauranga, Rotorua and Whangarei.
"Rotorua replied to him first.
"I phoned all of the high schools and I got interviews with all of them for the very next day. My first interview was at Rotorua Girls' High School at 8am, and she hired me on the spot."
Since then Epp has gone on to teach multiple generations of the same families, sometimes pausing in the role to realise it is the child or grandchild of one of her past students.
"A group of Year 12 students came to see me and they told me I was a really mean teacher. Because when they were naughty I was so kind to them and all I wanted was to understand why they did it, and they would feel stink because they had let me down," she said.
"I think that's a very good way to be mean, people remember you, and so if the kind and encouraging words are remembered that long then obviously so are the hurtful words.
She taught math, physics, biology and general science, studied to become a counsellor, lectured at Massey University, worked on curriculum development, chaired the steering committee for the school for young parents and sat on the board at Te Utuhina Manaakitanga.
During that time she also had her own children, Emma and Rufus.
"Every time I got an offer I would go to the board to resign, and they would say no, we will give you leave," she said.
After 29 years she left Rotorua Girls' High School to take on a new challenge as principal at Mokoia Intermediate.
"I had been interested in being a principal for some time.
"I had that grounding in primary, I loved teaching secondary school, but under NCEA the scope of my physics teaching changed."
She said being principal carried a huge workload and at times it had been a lonely job.
"The biggest indicator of success for me is just how well our students have done, what they went on to become and just how kind they are."
After 12 years Epp said her farewell to Mokoia last week.
"I cried when the school got up and did a haka for me, but I had a lovely day and I've got lovely cards kids have made for me."
"The school has an enormously good heart, fantastic staff, we've achieved a good amount and we know what the next steps are to keep improving."
After the recent death of her son Rufus and the ill-health of her husband she said now was a good time for her to leave.
"I have just loved every minute of my teaching career, but I am really looking forward to Des and I spending some time together, and I've got a zillion interests I want to pursue.
"I don't know that I will be leaving permanently and I am certainly not going to twiddle my thumbs, but I am going to take a break for at least six months."