A Personal Reflection 6 months in Robson
Alex, how was your first 6 months in Robson House?
My first six months in Robson House and Shore have been an amazing experience. One of the things I love about the Boarding House is all of the comradery between the boys. The best thing about Robson House is that you are never alone and there is always something to keep you occupied. For example, in the afternoons we gather all the Year 10’s from the other boarding houses and we go out and play footy and on Thursday afternoon as a Boarding House we go out to the Robson courtyard to play house cricket, although currently that is a bit difficult because of the building site. There are many other great social aspects about Robson boarding. I am very grateful that all the boys have been welcoming and accommodating which has improved my time in Robson and at Shore in a substantial way.
How does Prep work?
Another thing that I have thoroughly enjoyed about boarding in Robson and also within the school is the academic opportunities at the end of my fingertips. The Boarding House has a structured routine which involves a 2-hour prep time from 7pm to 9pm. This is a time of complete quiet where everyone sits down and completes the homework and assignments. The best thing about this time is that it encourages you to do your work as all the people around you are doing the same thing. Also, in this 2-hour time there are tutors available to help with any work that I need to help to get a better understanding, which is one of the many great benefits of boarding. I also have helpful teachers that are willing to help me with any assignments or work that needs to be completed.
Is sport an important aspect in Robson House?
The amount of sporting opportunities I have been exposed to in my time at Shore have been endless. I started playing cricket at Shore and I was mentored by highly accredited coaches that helped me improve my game both in my bowling and batting technique which saw me move from the 4ths to the 16 A’s. I am also in the 1st XI currently for soccer where we train three times a week which has helped improve my skills and fitness. I also had the opportunity to go to a tour to the Gold Coast in the first week in Term One holidays which was a great experience and was a chance where I could get to know each other boy and play together as a team. I was also fortunate enough to be selected for the U16’s AAGPS side which we played against ISA and AICES at Valentine Sports Park. I am also currently in the school athletics team which involves me training one morning a week on the school oval. It is also fantastic that we have a gym that we can go and use whenever we want to help improve our physical ability. There are many opportunities in Robson House and Shore with sport offering a wide variety of them and I believe sport has also been the easiest way to make new friends and meet new people.
To sum up then Alex?
I have loved my first six months in Robson as I have met many of new people from all around NSW which I will always be able to keep in contact with. I have also grown as a person and my academics and sports have thrived due to all the opportunities and help that I have access to. Another great thing is that I never get bored while in boarding in Robson as there are always boys around to do things with, whether that be; go to Chatswood on the weekend to watch a movie, go to the city, go out to the school oval to play some footy, or go down to Waverton to kick the soccer ball. Also if I ever feel that I need some quiet time there is always the opportunity to go for a 5km run over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and admire that spectacular view.
Ultimately, my first semester at Shore has been a blast and I cannot wait for what Semester 2 has in store for me.
Alex Robinson
Year 10 Boarder, Robson House
