Life beyond Radford
Howard Shroot
What does life look for you now?
I am now married with 2 sons, living in Jerusalem, Israel and working from home as a Content Writer for an online Financial Trading Company.
What is your favourite Radford moment?
My favourite Radford moment was hearing Thomas Bruce "T.B." Millar speak in the T.B. Millar Hall in 1989. Looking back, it helped me understand the spirit of citizenship and community service. I saw a man who had been Chairman of the Radford board during the most difficult years with nothing to personally gain because his children were already past school age.
Do you have a particular role model or inspirational figure from Radford or now?
Deputy Principal John Leyshon / the late Graeme Wigg - Although I may not have realised at the time. As a parent, husband, head of the household and generally just as an adult I have come to appreciate the importance of discipline and the importance of making tough but important decisions. As a pragmatic adult I realize that a Deputy Principal does a lot of unpleasant but important work that is necessary for a school to function. After looking at John Leyshon's consulting website http://www.johnleyshon.com.au/menu/ I can understand how he has gained his expertise.
Lee Kuan Yew - The 1st Prime Minister of Singapore.
How easy was it to decide what to do in life?
Looking back at my life, I recognize that in my case it seems like my life evolved more from a series of several smaller decisions rather than one large decision. However many of these decisions at the time seemed like I was deciding what to do in life. All my career decisions seem small in comparison to the decision I made in 2009 to marry my wife.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you'd planned?
Not exactly, However the different aspects of my further courses and studies as well as my on the job work experience have contributed to my current skill set. The 3 things that I learned at Radford that help me in my current employment "Content Writer for COTI (Currency of the Internet)" in which I am mainly writing business related articles are:
1) Learning to touch type in Year 9 (1991) with Mrs Nolan
2) Learning how the economy works in Commerce in Year 9 (1991) with Mrs Nicholson and Year 10 (1992) with Mr Kildea and Mr Tate.
3) Learning Asian Studies with Mrs Hobson in Year 8 (1990) and Mrs Allen in Year 10 (1992) laid the foundation to understanding why the economies of many Asian countries have prospered in recent years. Additionally I was motivated to take Asian Studies seriously after Mr George Huitker explained during a Language In Use class in Year 10 (1992) how important it could be for an Australian doing business with Asia to culturally understand what the other side is thinking and that it could make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful business deal.
What do you know now, that you wish you'd known when you were at Radford?
The importance of self discipline, planning, using your time wisely, being happy with who you are and valuing the moment.
What advice do you have for current students?
Make the most of education and your time at school. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you know everything.
Anything else that you would like to share?
I remember on my first day at Radford when I started Year 7 in 1989, being told that the purpose of the school is to bring out your full potential.
In Year 7 (1989) my Form Adviser was Mrs Ring and Year-Coordinator was Mrs Whitely.
In Year 8 (1990) my form Adviser was Mrs Kleeman and Year Coordinator was Mr Stevens.
In Year 9 (1991) my form Adviser was Mrs Rasmussen and Year Coordinator was Mrs Nicholson.
In Year 10 (1992) my form Adviser was Mr Foulcher and Year Coordinator was Mrs Murphy.