SEAN NG attends the private school St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, where he is in Year 9. We chat with Sean about his experiences as a Sydney student and boarder at “Joeys”. We also find out more from his Hong Kong-based parents, including father Michael who was also a boarder at St Joseph’s College (Class of 1998) and why they picked Joeys out of all the boarding schools in Sydney. (Plus, read on for details of a Headmaster’s Visit to Hong Kong this April, where you can learn more about the school and its boarding offerings.)
Tell us about this boarding school in Sydney. Was it a big adjustment from school in Hong Kong?
As a boy who came all the way from Hong Kong, starting Year 7 at Joeys with no knowledge of the culture and no friends at the school, I found myself in a very different atmosphere – so different I felt lost. But the people around me, especially the boys who were also starting their journey here, welcomed me, and made me feel included. They saw me standing quietly in a corner, and reached out to strike up a conversation. I also found the Boarding Coordinators and staff very friendly. They helped me settle in and made me feel at home.
Perhaps the people who helped me adapt at Joeys the most were my family. Every night, when I was calling my parents during free time, they would ask if boarding was good, if I understood what was going on in class, what I did at training in sports and so on – they always made sure I was okay, even from 7,400 kilometres away! And my grandmother, who came to Sydney with me, became like a second mother, looking after me during weekends and holidays.
What do you like most about being a Sydney student at Joeys?
Aspects of boarding life I enjoy the most at Joeys are the lively energy and the time I get to spend with mates. When you’re living at school with 70 other boys in your grade, there’s always an energetic atmosphere and I just love how it’s never boring. There’s always something to talk or laugh about, and sometimes I get to learn new things about them that I never knew. Since everyone is so friendly, it’s very easy to strike up a conversation. The staff are very friendly too, and they help to make boarding more enjoyable. I also find it convenient that I don’t need to take a bus to school, because every morning when I wake up, I’m already at school!
In the boarding house, you’ve got access to all sorts of facilities. There are pool tables, plus table tennis and table soccer that I can use in the dorms. I can run around and pass the ball with mates on the ovals, have a swim down at the pool, have some quiet time lying in bed, or even the anticipation of supper being served at night for a good snack. On Sundays, we have activities where we might be taken to a beach for a swim or a shopping mall to spend our money at the arcade. If we’re lucky, we get to take a trip to the Raging Waters theme park.
What are some of the ways you feel you’ve benefited from attending St Joseph’s College?
Boarding here has definitely influenced my relationships with peers in a positive way. The ability to live with my friends has given me many opportunities to get closer with them, and to make new friends too.
Joeys has contributed greatly to my personal development as it offers a wide variety of co-curricular activities, and I’m involved in many of them. Apart from being in the 15As tennis team, I also do Debating, Robotics, Game Changers, Science Club, Choir and music (piano and voice lessons). I understand Seniors boys have the opportunity to become an acolyte and that is something I’m looking forward to participating in as well.
A word with Sean’s father, Michael Ng
What factors led you to choose St Joseph’s College for your son’s boarding experience over other private schools?
I chose Joeys because the six years I spent there myself are arguably the most important six years of my life, helping to build the foundation of every success I have achieved so far. I’m a strong advocate of what Joeys strives for: notions of all-round excellence and the nurturing of fine young men, as opposed to a biased focus on mere academic success.
Boarding taught me discipline and teamwork, which was crucial in our sporting success on Saturdays as well as in later stages in life. Another benefit of boarding is the time saved from travelling each day. These hours can be utilised in extra sports training or other co-curricular activities, which I also enjoyed tremendously.
Both my wife Sachiko and my son were very impressed by their initial impressions of the College. In particular, Sean was in awe of the campus and its facilities – he liked that Joeys has one large campus as opposed to schools that have multiple campuses across Sydney. He liked the superior sporting facilities the College offers, and he was so happy when he saw what the Design and Technology Precinct classrooms were like.
How does the academic curriculum at boarding schools in Sydney compare to what you might expect in Hong Kong?
I think it’s definitely more balanced and more beneficial to kids at this age than Asia in general, not just Hong Kong. Schools in Hong Kong and Asia tend to put more emphasis on subjects such as maths and science over humanities subjects from an early age, and students are hardly trained to write essays or give presentations in front of their peers. Many students will be surprised to realise that these are in fact the qualities that could be more important at the workplace in the real world.
One aspect that sets Joeys apart from other private schools in Sydney is that the College allows students to excel in what they are good at, be it STEM, history, music, technology, drama or art.
What does Sean enjoy about the co-curricular activities at Joeys?
Sean loves being involved in various co-curricular activities because he actually feels he is growing as a person. In fact, one key issue we have been discussing over the past few months is time management as I fear he might have too much on his plate! On top of tennis, debating, robotics, Science Club and music, he’s also in the Accelerated Maths class, so he has a lot going on. But he tells me he loves every bit of it! I’m a big supporter of co-curricular activities as I was very active myself – playing tennis, debating and chess, being in the College orchestra and as an acolyte.
Would you recommend Joeys to other expatriate families?
Definitely yes. But I’ll be honest: it’s not a simple walk in the park. The College is as supportive as it can be, but students need to be committed and hard working to make the most out of it.
How do you feel your son’s experience as a Sydney student at St Joseph’s College will benefit him in the future?
I believe Sean will come out a better person, and to me as a parent that is the most important aspect. When it comes to looking for a job, speaking from my experience in interviewing and hiring students across Asia Pacific in an investment bank, I often found that students who had benefited from the Australian education system were more flexible and resourceful compared to others. And the St Joseph’s College model is as supportive and diverse as it can be.
Meet the St Joseph’s College team in Hong Kong!
The Headmaster Mr Michael Blake and St Joseph’s College staff are returning to Hong Kong to meet with families at a Headmaster’s Visit event this April. Families of current and future students, College Old Boys and families who are interested in Joeys can meet with the Headmaster, College staff and the extended Joeys community over light nibbles. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about boarding life, scholarships and bursaries to the school’s extracurricular programme, and how a Joeys education can benefit your son.
Find out more and register your interest here.
St Joseph’s College is at Mark Street, Hunters Hill, Sydney, Australia.
9816 0900 | sjc@joeys.org
joeys.org
