Page 25 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017

24 RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION COUNCIL RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION COUNCIL 25

CAREERS & MENTORING: A CASE STUDY MY YEAR IN CHILE…WITH THE HELP OF THE

RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION
One of the aims of the Association is
to help its members to network and
communicate with each other, initially
through its website, providing valuable
career advice and mentoring potential.
Below is John Ward’s (00) story of how
fellow OR Paul Morris (74) offered him a
life-changing internship many years ago.

“After leaving Ratcliffe in the Class of
2000, I made the pilgrimage north up
to Newcastle to undertake a degree
in International Business Studies with John Ward (00) (far left) at the Paul Morris Centre, circa 2009
Italian. When I graduated in 2005, the
time came to apply for a job. Rejections came thick and fast, for a graduate corporate banker with Allied Irish Banks in
and my self-belief was starting to waver. I suppose, in a field Birmingham, reporting to another OR, Paul Morris (74). Despite
of thousands of graduates, it’s hard to stand out! Eventually, my distinct lack of banking experience, and for reasons only
though, I got a bite from a small telecoms company in Reading know to himself, Paul answered my application. We met up and
and, with a lack of alternatives, I jumped at the role and relocated clicked immediately. I laid out my case with what must have been
there. The whole thing was a disaster, and two weeks later, I some conviction, and Paul set some very stern ground rules
resigned and retreated back to my parents’ house in Gaddesby about what he expected. With that, I was sold, and I started a
with my tail between my legs. couple of weeks later. We had plenty of fun times together, and
Paul provided support, coaching, discipline and empowerment in
Far from being panicked, the experience was actually liberating, spades. I started off as the pimply office graduate and finished a
and it taught me that I needed to find a role that I really believed fully-fledged banker. Along the way, we created memories that I
in. Luckily, I wasn’t at a loose end for long, as my former will treasure forever.
classmate, Dominic Howkins (00), sent me a job advertisement The view from Santiago’s Cerro San Cristobal
The move to Birmingham also resulted in me meeting my future
wife - an Aussie and my true soulmate, no less. The skills that I Back in October 2015, when discussing universities with my I honestly cannot put into words how overwhelmed I was to be
learnt, plus the connections created by joining AIB and through brother (Loughborough being a favourite of his at the time), I named as the first winner of the Ratcliffian Association Gap Year
Paul, got me connected with National Australia Bank, and after a distinctly remember giving him the sound, albeit gratuitous, Scholarship at the annual Exhibition Day. With this, I was able
whirlwind round of interviews, a new life in Australia beckoned. advice of any Year 11: ‘The trick is to pick the furthest place away to reach my target of £6200 in early August, and while I cannot
Seven-and-a-half years, a marriage and two children later, from home’. Well, I certainly fulfilled that prophecy myself. Fast say for definite which outlet the £250 has been put towards, it
Sydney has been kind, and the adventure continues! I will never forward to October 2017: I am seven weeks into a twelve-month has helped me to reach Chile and a school where I already feel
forget the day I answered that job advert, and if this sounds like project as an English Assistant in the Cerro Navia district of like I belong. All the children here at the Colegio San Damian
it could be you, then you should also consider answering the Santiago, Chile - a whopping 7259 miles from home. Beat that, de Molokai are astounding bundles of energy, but there’s no
call!” Loughborough! denying that they all want to participate. There’s a rowdy, lively
energy that refuses to stay still, but absorbs all the knowledge it
John Ward (00) In the summer of 2016, I applied and was selected by Project Trust can like a sponge. I genuinely had no idea how rewarding being
(an established educational charity that has various projects a teacher could be until I experienced it for myself, although it’s
Do you want to have the same opportunity? Paul Morris is looking based in Asia, Africa and the Americas) to work abroad for twelve still surreal being up at the front of the classroom instead of
for a new graduate: months from August 2017-2018 as a volunteer in Chile. Working lounging on one of the desks!
as an English Assistant in a country which I knew nothing about,
CORPORATE BANKING GRADUATE OFFICER other than the principal language, was both exhilarating and I would like to say a huge thank you to the Association and to
incredibly daunting. However, there was a catch to this golden its President, Sam Bird (98), and its Executive Manager, Alex
Salary £21,000. Based in Birmingham. opportunity that was within my grasp: the even more daunting Slack (née Gamble) (03), in particular, for introducing and
task of fundraising £6200 for my year abroad. organising the new Gap Year Scholarship. It truly is an amazing
We are looking for a numerate graduate with a 2:1 degree from opportunity for anyone thinking of taking a gap year, and it’s a
a Russell Group University. Any discipline will be acceptable, So, throughout Year 13, I had my work cut out for me. In addition real encouragement to do something practical and worthwhile.
but preferably Accountancy or Mathematics. All training will to organising countless fundraising activities, I wrote to various There is something out there for everyone who is willing to
be given, and candidates will be expected to undertake CIMA charities and charitable trusts that had a keen focus on either take a leap, and I couldn’t be happier to advocate this scheme.
examinations. The job is immediate. education or volunteering abroad, and applied for several gap Year 13, I wish you all the best of luck with everything that the
year scholarships, including the Bulkeley-Evans HMC Scholarship future holds, whether it be Loughborough or Chile or Tenerife,
The position is offered by a large UK bank which has a scheme, still being run at Ratcliffe. In late March, halfway and to everyone in the Ratcliffian Association who made this
substantial footprint in corporate banking in the UK, and by through my fundraising, I was shocked by the announcement of unforgettable experience a living, working, dancing reality -
an Old Ratcliffian who is keen to offer the role to a fellow OR. a new scheme: the Ratcliffian Association Gap Year Scholarship, thank you!
to support students embarking on an incredible chapter in their
All candidates should apply to Paul Morris at: lives before university, with a generous £250 at stake. Bingo. Emily Bown (17)
paul.morris@aib.ie

Register online for our new website: www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk Register online for our new website: www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk

The Old Ratcliffian 2017.indd 24 07/12/2017 11:14 The Old Ratcliffian 2017.indd 25 07/12/2017 11:14