Joshua Pako Class of 2011
Last year, 2021, would have been my ten year reunion since graduating from St Edmund’s College. Although COVID lockdowns prevented our class from reuniting, the fond memories of our schoolyard days remain. It’s not every day one is allowed to write about their life after their school days. Being able to write this article has given me the time to reflect on what I have achieved in the last ten years. In all honesty, my life is entirely different from what I had initially thought it would be. But I am grateful for where I have arrived. So, here is my journey. Among all the fond memories I have at Eddies, the first one that comes to mind is the basketball courts. I would spend every lunchtime running to the gym so that I could play. Basketball was my life. Every day of the week, I would either have some training or a game to play. I made it to the national competition twice for the ACT. I even went to America with the Eddies school team, played with and against players in the NBA, the Olympics, travelled the world for 3x3 or made other international squads. But once Year 12 came around, I had to make a choice. Do I continue basketball or pursue something else?
Fortunately, I also had other interests. One of which was communication. Not your standard communication like marketing or telecommunications but instead with crosscultural communication, i.e., languages. An interest that grew during my time at Eddies. I was that kid growing up who would be fascinated, intrigued, and curious about what other people would be talking about at a shopping centre in another language. It felt like a secret conversation. Something only those two – at that time and place – could understand. This passion allowed me to move on from the game of basketball and head to ANU to further my studies. University was not what I had expected and I struggled a lot. But if there was one thing that Eddies taught me, especially being in Clancy house, nothing is too difficult for the strong – words that I strive for still to this day. So, after a few failed classes and changing my degree three times, I eventually completed a Bachelor of Languages majoring in the Japanese language. Many of you are probably asking what can one do with a Bachelor of Languages degree, and it is a fair question. I had left
Vibrant Spirit. Strong Character. Tailored Learning
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