Here we are again, another week, another great chat with someone that went to boarding school. You know I’m always on the look out for interesting people to talk to about their experience of boarding school – whether they were a boarder, or whether they were ‘infected’ by the country spirit of the boarders that were at their school – it’s always lovely to share the story. Please get in touch with me if you have someone you know would be great to hear from.
This week’s convo is with renown watercolour artist Sarah Smith. I really loved talking with Sarah and while we had a few connectivity issues I think you’ll enjoy her calm and confident style. Her reflections of her time at Kincoppal in Sydney’s eastern suburbs as a full time boarder are genuinely heartfelt and I think it’s really timely to hear of her struggles with homesickness during the first couple of years.
As she so beautifully puts it, you never really lose that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you leave home at the beginning of each term but the gathering of strength, the warmth of friendships made and the realisation of the opportunities along the way certainly lessen the depth of the pit over the years.
Sarah hails from Nevertire, a tiny rural village on the edge of the western slopes and plains in NSW. She is the second of five children (and one of five daughters I might add) to Jen and Mal Smith who are sheep and cattle farmers with cropping thrown in for good measure.
Here she speaks of her idyllic upbringing and her years at boarding school. Though it’s the 10 years since boarding school where she’s discovered via two careers her genius for intricate watercolour paintings and the bonus of enthusiastic boarding school mates who champion her achievements loudly and proudly. We did have a bit of a giggle about her 10 year reunion this year, she can’t quite believe she’s at the 10 year mark and we certainly had a bit of a laugh. To hear that her year group is as tight as ever really affirms the strength of bonds made in a boarding school community.
I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.
