In this week's 'A Conversation With... ' we talk to Graduate Assistant, Mr Will Carey who joined us in September, although Will is a familiar face around Shiplake having been a rowing coach and former pupil himself. He says he loved his time so much at Shiplake that he wanted to come back! In his spare time, Will loves cycling and getting practical by making things in his garage.
What is your role(s) and where were you previously?
My role is titled Graduate Assistant, however, I find myself involved in a lot around the school. Before I had this role, I was an external rowing coach at the College just working in the afternoons. Before that I was studying Business and Marketing at the University of London.
What does your day look like as a Graduate Assistant?
The day usually starts in Lower School helping around the house and making sure the boys are sorted before lessons begin. I get to teach cyber skills to all of Lower School throughout the week, usually with one lesson a day. During the periods I’m not teaching, I often get assigned to cover lessons, however contrary to popular belief about covers, I tend to enjoy them as it is still valuable experience to me! Sometimes I get to go in to the marketing department at the school and help out around there too, again, more valuable experience and something I really enjoy. After lessons, I find myself down at the Davies Centre coaching rowing, primarily the Year 10s this term, however also the Year 9s and Seniors on various days. Following sport, I’m either helping out at prep time, supervising the gym or getting to use the lovely facilities to get some training done myself.
What is the best thing about working at Shiplake?
I believe that the fact I have decided to come back to the school I went to, to then work, shows a lot about how wonderful the school environment is and how lovely all members of staff are. Whenever people used to ask me what I could see myself doing in the future, I found myself always responding in the same way, coming back to Shiplake, coaching rowing and working in the marketing department, and now, I get to do even more than that! I digressed however, and something I always believed to be amazing at Shiplake must be the food. There is always such an amazing selection of food available, and something for everyone. Besides the food, it has to be getting to see some of my closest friends every day.
You obviously have fond memories of being a Shiplake pupil. How does it feel being on the other side as a member of staff?
At first it was a bit weird, especially being able to actually enter the Staff Common Room, however I found that I quickly adapted to life as a member of staff, just further showing how accepting the other members of staff are. However, I still haven’t quite worked out how my old teachers feel about having a former pupil of theirs as a co-worker.
What inspired you to get involved in rowing at Shiplake and where did it take you?
There was no major influence for me getting in to rowing, however it was always something that I wanted to try when I joined the school. It’s safe to say that my start to rowing wasn’t the most triumphant, with three years back-to-back of not qualifying for the National Schools' Regatta. Nonetheless, I continued to pluck away at the sport, trying to get better each day, and this led to being part of the 1st eight in Year 12, winning the Child Beale Cup (a 1st eights event) at National Schools. In my final year, we continued this upwards trajectory with some up-and-coming boys and managed to place 4th in the Championship Eights event and medal in the Champ 4-. That summer, I was selected to represent Great Britain at the Coupe de la Jeunesse. Rowing has taken me all over the world, such as America, Poland, Spain, Portugal and China to name a few, and leading to some of the best times I have ever had.
Other than rowing, what else did you like to get involved in at school?
As boring as this sounds, rowing took up a lot of my time, so I did not get to jump into other hobbies in the same way, however I always enjoyed D&T, or DET as it’s now known, and it is something I still do in my spare time! Other than those two, getting to spend time with friends was always a plus and a nice getaway from the heavy training load.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
It is usually a mixture of two things. Cycling has taken a lot of my spare time away, and something I am trying to get in to more and more again. However, the winter takes away a lot of motivation. When the weather gets nicer I like to go in to the garage and make things, if I can. This summer I have planned a pallet sofa for the garden, thrilling I know.
What do you hope to do in the future?
When I first started coaching at Shiplake, I didn’t have teaching really on my radar, however from spending more time in this environment with everyone here, I realised that a PGCE is something I would like to pursue. Other than this, it could be more responsibilities around the school, and if teaching does pick up, then I would love to experience being a Housemaster, as the pastoral side of things is rather appealing to me. Past that, I haven’t put too much thought into things, and I am taking things as they come, trying to make the most of the opportunities that Shiplake have provided me with.
