In which year group did you join Rokeby?
Reception
In which year did you leave Rokeby?
2017
Which senior school did you attend?
Reed’s School
Secondary school is a very different environment to prep school, with much larger classes and a requirement to be more independent. Yet the foundation Rokeby gave me allowed me to integrate effortlessly into the environment at Reed’s.
Where are you now?
I joined the University of Liverpool in 2022 to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics and am currently in my final year. I also play for Sunbury Cricket Club, where Mr Williams used to play!
What are your future plans?
I plan to go into social entrepreneurship in India where I will be working alongside charities and micro-finance institutions.
What is your fondest memory of your time at Rokeby?
One thing that truly stood out was the way teachers went above and beyond not only in academics but also to develop and install the qualities of the school (Smart, Skilful and Kind). In Year 8 my form tutor used to hold a general knowledge quiz at registration every morning. I owe my prowess in flag recognition to him! While in Year 8 this seemed a fun morning activity, it broadened our cognitive horizon and made me more inquisitive about an array of different subjects.
The cricket trip to Sri Lanka, on which I went not only with my friends but also my brother (the youngest boy on the trip), also stands out to me. The heat and ability of the local Sri Lankan cricketers meant we were on the losing side for most of the matches, and such results can easily lead to disappointment and negative emotions. Yet our teachers made sure that we were positive and learned from the local teams, and also encouraged us to immerse ourselves in the local culture (even taking us to a local dance show when we were half asleep on the day we arrived). This, however, is just a glimpse of some of the memories that I have at Rokeby. Many other moments and notable Rokeby events, such as the Lower School nativity plays, carol services and the Rowe Cup resonate deeply with me.
How did your teachers or friends at Rokeby inspire or influence you during those years?
I am still in touch with my friends at Rokeby and I know that my brother is also too. The fact that we had lived the first half of our youth primarily at school means the friends at Rokeby are the only ones to truly see us grow both physically and as a person. The sports teams at Rokeby also allowed for life-long bonds as we faced moments of celebration and disappointment together, which drew us closer.
During my time at Rokeby, different year groups were integrated successfully. For example, in Year 3 we were paired with ‘buddies’ in Year 6, which developed a bond between the two different year groups.
Teachers went above and beyond, most often when we would not even notice. Lessons would be (mostly) engaging and there was always a push for us students to know more than was required to be taught.
My degree involves looking at world problems having taken out any personal biases that I may have so that I may analyse data objectively. It can be said, however, that I learned this skill not at university but instead in history lessons at Rokeby, where we were taught to always question the evidence.
Did you face any challenges during your time at Rokeby? How did overcoming them shape who you are?
Although not necessarily a negative challenge, performing in the Rowe Cup was probably up there as one of the most scary experiences of my life! It was daunting to perform a solo in the packed Sports Hall in front of teachers, parents and my fellow students…However, at the end of the day, the confidence I gained from knowing that I had pushed myself to perform far outweighed the fear I had experienced before performing. It made me learn that the consequences of doing something ‘scary’ are, more often than not, rewarding in the end.
One piece of advice to younger boys
Immerse yourself as much as you can in the experiences the school provides. It may sometimes require you to push your boundaries but you never know how good you are at something unless you try. Throughout my time at Rokeby, I did not try very hard at rugby because I thought I was not good at it. But in Year 7, I put a bit more effort into rugby, and by Year 8, I was playing in the 1st team. More than the results, the best experience in my mind is when you put in your best, learn, and enjoy the experience.