Merry Christmas all the way from Switzerland. This is where former Joeys boy Richard Porter is living and working at the moment and enjoying the cold weather. Read on to find out about how his boarding experience gave him the independence and life skills to make a smooth transition to an international posting with his company.
1. What boarding school did you go to?
St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill
2. What was your best experience at Boarding School?
One of the best experiences I had whilst at Joey’s was a week long excursion for Year 11 Agriculture to a classmates farm at Coolac. The Graham’s welcomed about 15 of us onto their sheep and cattle property and into their home. It was great to see a farm in a different part of the world (much greener and hillier than Hay) and the experience was very much hands on with calf and lamb marking, drenching, injections and a very memorable experience of testing a group of bulls’ mounting capacity. I think the main point to make is how generous the Joey’s community was in helping the students progress themselves. There was a lot of behind the scenes work that went into the trip from teachers and obviously the host family themselves – and it was all to our benefit.
3. What is your favourite memory from Boarding School?
I think my best memories of Joey’s are around the dorms and the sports ovals with mates. I think the one thing that everyone takes away from a boarding school like Joey’s is a great group of friends (I was living in a house with two Joey’s boys until I moved over to Europe)
4. What are you doing now?
At the start of October I moved to Geneva, Switzerland to start a trading traineeship with Louis Dreyfus Commodities. I’ll be here for the next 12 months and then who knows, the company has offices all over the world!
5. Has anything you learnt at boarding school helped you with your current career?
I think one important lesson you learn at boarding school, probably more than anywhere else, is how to live with a diverse group of people. Working with people in the office, on the phone and over email all day, people skills and tolerance are very important, both of which you pick up through boarding.
6. Any advice for young kids going to boarding school?
Keep busy. Throw yourself into all the sport, study and extra-curricular activities you can!