Growing up in a military family in Canada meant moving around for Adrienne. So, understandably for her, the question of what home means is far from a simple answer. Arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand in her early twenties as a solo traveller, it was only supposed to be a year-long adventure. Yet more than two decades later, Adrienne still walks the forests, gardens, and shores around Dunedin.

She briefly mentions St Clair beach as a meaningful place to spend time, and the Pacific Ocean as the connector that bridges family on opposite distant shores. This idea somehow closes the gap between family and memories half a world apart. And the concept of connection becomes a central theme to Adrienne's story as we continue to talk about life.

Familiar faces, former students, colleagues, family and friends; these relationships and connections within communities have been gradually nurtured over the years. And for Adrienne, it forms a sense of belonging to a place that she loves, and where a strong human-centric teaching career path has also developed.

A teenage interest in rowing is not where she expected her journey into teaching to start, yet various coaching experiences came out of this hobby and helped shift Adrienne’s attention into education. And from there, into a lifelong interest in mental health, wellbeing, and to better understand human resilience.

As I listen to Adrienne, it’s clear the impact of her contributions to society, having taught high school students locally and overseas, guiding teachers, shaping career pathways of future counsellors, and academic research in the mental wellbeing space. The settings have changed over the years, but the calling has remained consistent: helping people better understand themselves and each other.

Adrienne reveals her naturally curious and creative personality, as she talks about some of her other interests. She is a writer, an artist, has a love of reading and books, referees roller derby, and throws herself into new experiences to see where they may lead; whether it's a passion ignited or a lesson learned. Maybe ask Adrienne about her love of mugs and the pottery course that gave her new insights into a journey of self-discovery, sometime.

I had previously asked Adrienne about locations for her portraits, and one of two meaningful locations was the beach setting. However, her portrait was captured in the other favourite place, the Dunedin Botanic Garden, in full springtime bloom with cherry blossoms and magnolias. It was a fitting location and season to capture her for several reasons.

When I asked Adrienne if she could share some advice, or a little on her approach to life, in a few last words, it felt like an unfairly difficult ask to put on someone. However, her response was thoughtful and elegantly communicated. 

She reinforced the importance of connection; to ourselves, to each other, and to nature. And the importance of community and humanity, with a soft reminder to connect to our strengths and to go easy on ourselves. Adrienne summed it up in just five words.

"We belong to each other.”