A high school should be a place where you can discover who you are, find your people and feel supported to become who you want to be.

For our alumni, belonging at Albany Senior High School looks different for everyone. It might be finding confidence on a theatre stage, connecting with teachers who see your potential, discovering a community where you can be yourself, or simply being given the space and support to grow.

For four ASHS alumni, those experiences have stayed with them long after leaving school.

A place to be yourself

When Waimarie Tipene arrived at ASHS in 2020, she was navigating a challenging period in her life and feeling uncertain about who she was.

Despite spending just one year at ASHS, she describes it as transformative. Supportive friendships, empathetic staff and a culture that celebrated authenticity gave her the space to rebuild her confidence and reconnect with her identity.

“ASHS gave me the space to rediscover my identity, to build confidence, and to grow into someone who could imagine a future for herself.”

Today, Waimarie is a filmmaker and founder of her own production company, creating work across Aotearoa and Australia. But she remains clear about the role ASHS played in her journey: “ASHS will always be the place where I began to believe in myself.”

Finding your people – and your voice

For Tomoki Vincent, belonging began in the ASHS theatre.

Starting Year 11 as a self-described shy and insecure student, joining the ensemble of My Fair Lady introduced Tomoki to a community and friendships that remain important to him today.

As his confidence grew, so did his sense of who he wanted to become. Teachers recognised and encouraged his creativity, while Performing Arts and Impact Projects gave him opportunities to explore it – eventually helping him discover his future career in marketing.

Now working in digital marketing for Auckland Live, Tomoki says he would choose ASHS again “in a heartbeat”.

Being known

Mark Howard also arrived at ASHS as a shy student, but found that the relationships between students and teachers encouraged him to come out of his shell.

For Mark, ASHS was a place where students could engage with teachers as people, ask questions and contribute their own perspectives. That sense of connection helped him grow in confidence while developing the independence that would serve him well beyond school.

More than a decade later, those connections endured. Mark maintained close friendships formed at ASHS and later returned to contribute to the school through governance.

Today, he is completing a PhD in Law in Vancouver – but the sense of community he found at ASHS remains part of his story.

Supported to grow 

For Anam Vahora, the relationships she built with teachers were also central to her ASHS experience.

She remembers educators who took the time to understand her strengths, provide guidance and encourage her to keep growing – not only academically, but personally.

That support helped Anam develop confidence in herself and her abilities, ultimately leading her toward a career supporting others. Today, she works in inclusive education, helping young people access the support and opportunities they need to thrive.

Anam’s pathway may look very different from Waimarie’s, Tomoki’s or Mark’s – and that’s exactly the point.

At ASHS, there is no single version of who a student should be, or who they should become.

Be here. Be you. Belong. Because when rangatahi have the space to be themselves, people who believe in them and a community where they feel they belong, there’s no telling where they might go next.

Enrolments for 2027 are now open – discover what ASHS could look like for you at ashs.school.nz/enrol.