Interview with Ashbury College Alum, Jasmine Mussani
Jasmine Mussani, an alumna of Ashbury College, shared her perspective on the school’s high standards, supportive culture, diverse opportunities, adaptability, strong community, and lasting impact on confidence, growth, and lifelong success.
Highlights from the interview
The atmosphere and the culture encouraged students to do their best, be their best, and have the opportunities they deserved. The teachers did their best to make sure everyone was able to pursue the things that they wanted. There was equal opportunity for leadership positions and for making sports teams. If you didn't make the main sports team, you could make the secondary one and still try out to play in games.
Ashbury definitely holds students to a high standard. They give you the opportunities, but they also don't hand you things on a silver platter. It is about working very hard and learning the whole aspect of hard work and what it means to earn something. That is a huge thing that Ashbury really instills. I know I have taken that into later life as well. You have to work very hard to get the marks to get into schools and programs. Even leadership opportunities in Grade 12 required you to push for the things you wanted to happen. They wanted you to prove why something made sense and how it impacted the student body. It was really about holding you accountable and to a higher standard, which objectively makes them different.
It was inclusive, empathetic, compassionate, eager, and curious—very eager to learn and to change as the times were changing. I was there for six years, starting in Grade 7 and finishing through high school. Even during my time there, the school changed so much in how it approached different things. They realized they had added girls and needed to adapt. They were really good at adjusting to what was going on in the world, making sure students were learning things relevant to the times. That stood out as important for students and families, knowing the school was doing its best to move in the right direction together.
It was incredibly diverse, not just from a cultural sense but also from an interest perspective. It was unique because we had boarders, which gave us a lot of exposure to different cultures and students from different countries. Everyone valued academics very heavily, but people were also athletically inclined or musically talented. We all had the chance to go to provincials or city championships, and Ashbury was supportive of that. Friends who weren’t into sports pursued music, band, orchestra, or competitions. Others excelled in debate or the arts. Whatever you wanted to pursue, there was an area to do that.
Ashbury wanted you to walk away with confidence in yourself, a belief in yourself, and the knowledge that you had a support system behind you, regardless of what you chose to do. They emphasized inclusivity, compassion, and valuing empathy. They stressed the culture and family aspect of the school, making it feel like a home away from home. They also emphasized giving back, not just from a monetary perspective but through time and emotional support, making sure you were there for other people when you could.
It is a huge community, and the support system is phenomenal. Alumni relations are strong, and they do a good job keeping us connected and making sure we know what’s going on at the school. If I ever wanted to go back and visit, I know I would be welcomed.
Ashbury taught me so much about myself, about how to be a good person, and about pushing myself not to settle for less than what I can do. I would not be who I am without going to Ashbury. It allowed me to value my own potential. Even now, years after graduating, I still really value the time I spent there, and I always talk about Ashbury very, very fondly.
You’re choosing a school that provides a strong foundation for whatever you want to do in life. When I was choosing Ashbury, one of the main things my parents emphasized was the opportunities I would have coming out and having a degree from there. The alumni network is strong, and graduates are doing phenomenal things. Beyond opportunity, the community is so tight-knit and strong. There is a place for you, whether you enjoy sports, debate, art, theater, or music, and everything is interconnected. Ashbury allows you to be whoever you want to be. There is no mold you must fit. Teachers and staff push you positively to reach your potential.
My advice to students entering Ashbury is to be yourself. Don’t be scared or shy. People will catch you if you fall. Push yourself to try new things and step outside your comfort zone. You may find something you never thought you’d enjoy, and you’ll make meaningful connections within a great community. There’s no shortcut to hard work, but enjoy the work along the way.
