What years did you attend Freyberg, and what were some of your most memorable experiences?

I was at Freyberg from 2008-2012. While I was there, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to organise the junior prom and senior ball, performing in the school musicals and not having to worry about adult things like making sure I’d paid my house insurance on time! Also the milk challenge…I will never forget watching the boys chug coloured milk in the vautier car park.

2012 Senior Ball - Harley Callaghan, Hayden Turner (2011), Joe Turner, PNBHS dude, Joseph Wharehinga (2013), Alexia, Claire Beal, Rebekah Thompson, Kyra Groombridge (nee Loader), Courney Walker, Ella Bourke
2009 Junior Prom - Back Row: Courtney Walker, Ella Bourke, Monique Hoogendoorn, Greer, Nicole
Front Row: Alexia, Sarah Bird, Rachel Williamson, Natalie Little

Did you have any favorite teachers or subjects that influenced your path after school?

Considering my chosen subjects in year 13 were dance, drama, music studies, performance music, and photography, it’s safe to say that all of my subjects lead me to where I am today. As I currently teach NCEA Dance, I quite often find myself thinking back to what we would get up to in dance and how Mrs Rhodes would explain it to us. Annoyingly, I wasn't always paying attention in class so there are some rather large gaps in my memory when I was too busy worrying about  whether the boys would pay Harley $50 to eat a cockroach. 

Were you involved in any extracurricular activities, clubs, or sports while at school?

"I played every sport you possibly could while at Freyberg" is a sentence I have never said. But I was in Bugsy Malone, Footloose, and Annie as well as Dance Academy and Drama Academy. Oh, and Bella, the all girls choir which is now "Bella and the Fellas".

Alexia playing Miss Hannigan and sister Tayla playing Annie with Mum Kirsten backstage at Annie in 2021.

What have you been up to since leaving Freyberg?

Well, to absolutely no one's surprise, I went and studied musical theatre. After that I spent a year working at Walt Disney World in Florida where I spent my days hanging out with princesses and making sure Donald Duck behaved himself. I even helped out with gender reveals, engagements, and Make-A-Wish experiences. Once my Disney contract ended, I started working as an Entertainment Host onboard a P&O cruise ship based out of Brisbane. After 45 days on the job, we had to disembark all of our passengers and pause cruising for 2 weeks while we waited for Covid-19 to calm down. Covid didn't exactly "calm down" and after 52 days onboard with no passengers (we ran out of fresh food at one point, had to limit our water usage so couldn't do any laundry, and had to have our temperatures checked twice a day), myself and the other kiwis onboard made our way back to the NZ isolation hotels from the bay of Manila where we were anchored. I called my parents and asked if I could come and stay with them for a bit back in Palmy and I've been here ever since. Not living with my parents though...living 5 doors down the road!

I realised I'd be stuck in NZ for a bit longer so I decided to do my teaching diploma and I've been a secondary school teacher for the past 3 years. That's all about to change though as I embark on my newest adventure...working for myself!

If you could go back and tell your high school self one thing, what would it be?

I would grab her by the shoulders and tell her to chill the f*ck out. 

Do you keep in touch with former classmates or the school community?

I'm still involved with the music department through my mum as she's STILL teaching singing there. I really enjoy going along to the Freyberg singing concerts at the end of the year and seeing the next wave of talented students do what they love. The Freyberg choir also sounds better and better every year. I'm not sure I would have got in if I was to audition now.

Because of my job, I get to help moderate the dance assessments for Freyberg so I still feel like I'm part of the dance department too. Gosh it's gotten big! Again, I don't think I'd get into the dance academy today. Those kids are doing some seriously cool stuff and there are no "grief dresses" in sight (IYKYK).

Relay for Life 2011 - Back Row: Claire Beal, Lizzie Boakes (2013), Kyra Groombridge (nee Loader), Rebekah Thompson
Front Row: PNBHS boy, Courteny Walker, Alexia
Very Bottom Left: Rosie Simmons (2013)

What are you hoping to get out of being part of this alumni community?

Did someone say reunion? Surely we can get everyone who finished between 2010-2015 together for a 10-15 year catch up!