Anamika Jones
Anamika Jones is on her way to fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a singer.
She remembers doing her first musical when she was 6 years old and developing a passion for singing on stage.
After trying her hand at a range of different musical genres, she settled on becoming a pop and R&B singer.
"I’ve listened to pop songs before and I have been inspired by Lady Gaga and artists like that, and this year I started making my own music in that genre."
She enjoys writing catchy music that is upbeat and cheerful.
Anamika says it is also an amazing feeling to be on stage doing musical theatre.
"I love performing; it’s so fun acting out as characters."
It makes her happy to perform with her peers and bounce off the audience’s energy.
Next year, she plans to continue writing music and take on acting opportunities in musicals.
Doing all of her co-curricular activities on top of school work gets quite stressful at times, so she has learned to prioritise her school work and use her co-curricular activities as a way to relax.
"I’ve always pushed really hard to get my work in on time, but having an outlet of things that I can do outside of school has given me a space where I can escape from the school work.
"I don’t have to constantly be pushing."
Achievements
National Youth Drama School (2025); 1st Otago Shakespeare Competition 5-minute play (2025); 3rd Otago Secondary Schools Athletics 400m (2023, 2025); Trinity Catholic College athletics champion (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025); sports prefect (2025); sporting excellence prize (2019-24); NCEA level 1 and 2 excellence endorsed (2023, 2024); first with outstanding achievement in music, dance, drama and religious education; athlete award for outstanding fitness and endurance (2024); top vocalist cultural blue (2024); Otago Shakespeare Competition best use of music award (2024); runner-up Otago Shakespeare Competition 5-minute play (2024); 1st Otago Smokefree Tangata beats solo/duo section (2024); 1st Otago Theatrefest (2024), qualified for National Theatrefest Competitions (2024); qualified for National Smokefree Tangata Beats solo/duo section (2024).
Role model
Her mother.
Hopes for the future
To be successful in a career she enjoys.
Therese Tili
Therese Tili has learned to embrace her Samoan and Indian roots and aspires to be a role model for her community.
The 17-year-old says she struggled to embrace her culture growing up because there were not many brown people in Dunedin.
"I used to try to hide that I was [Samoan and Indian] when I was younger because I was embarrassed and you would get shamed for it.
"It was a struggle because I was too white for the Samoans but not white enough for the white people."
Therese had the opportunity to get a traditional Samoan tattoo (malu tatau) done at her father’s saofa’i — a traditional Samoan ceremony that bestows the title of chief on an individual.
However, at the time she felt she was not ready for it because she did not know enough about her culture.
This prompted her to learn more about her roots and she finally got the tatau done by traditional Samoan tattoo artist Su’a Suluape.
She says it was an incredible experience and an emotional day.
"You’re overwhelmed with pride, honour and gratitude."
She is proud to be the cultural prefect at Trinity Catholic College this year and took on the responsibility to organise a variety of cultural events including fia-fia nights and shared lunches for different cultures at her school.
As a school leader, she made it a priority to encourage her younger Pasifika peers to study harder.
Next year, she wants to study radiation therapy, a decision inspired by her grandfather, who died after a battle with cancer.
Achievements
Class leader (2025), 2nd Toa scholarship (2024), NCEA level 2 excellence endorsed, 2nd New Zealand beach handball nationals (2025), Otago women’s handball team at the Australian beach handball nationals (2025), New Zealand women’s handball team at the Australian beach handball nationals (2025), New Zealand women’s beach handball team (2024, 2025), 3rd New Zealand beach handball nationals (2024), Trinity Wall of Fame for beach handball and indoor handball (2024), 3rd New Zealand handball club champs (2024), 1st New Zealand beach handball nationals (2023), Shakespeare (2024) best ensemble, cultural prefect (2025), Young Vinnies group volunteer (2023-25), Otago Polytechnic recognition award (2022), Otago Polytechnic Pacific Island scholarship (2022), 1st Otago Bishop Shield junior scripture (2022).
Role model
Her older brother Isaac Tili.
Hopes for the future
To become a radiation therapist.
