Enniskillen Royal Grammar School

16 hours ago

Name: Raine Allen

Year I left ERGS: 2023

A Level Subjects: Spanish, Moving Image Arts, Performing Arts, plus English Literature at AS Level

Post School Pathway: University of Central Lancashire; Assumption University of Thailand

Courses Studied: Asia Pacific Studies with Korean; Music Entrepreneurship

I visited Hong Kong, Taiwan and China in 2023, not long after leaving ERGS. It was my first solo international trip and I loved my taste of absolute freedom. In Hong Kong, I visited the remains of the Kowloon Walled City, which was an incredible experience. I was only in China for a short while, but I enjoyed my time there and finally got to use my Mandarin skills with the locals. Taiwan was beautiful and I definitely plan on returning so I can explore more. It was a vibrant combination of nature and city life, with hidden surprises everywhere, and I would absolutely be open to living there.

I went straight from ERGS to the University of Central Lancashire to study Asia Pacific Studies with Korean on an unconditional offer, but after my first year I decided that it wasn’t for me. I then went to Thailand to volunteer as an English teacher and completely fell in love with the country. So, when I returned home, I made the decision to become an international student.

While sending off applications, I worked and saved money. I then received an acceptance email from Assumption University for the term beginning in January 2025. I left home in December 2024 and started my new life. Moving here was the best decision I ever made.

Meeting people from different countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Bhutan, China and Sweden has been such an eye-opening experience. My Music Entrepreneurship course is amazing — I get a lot of freedom and most of my classes are really enjoyable. I had taught myself Thai before moving here, but my fluency has dramatically increased since arriving.

I’ve also met several Thai celebrities, which was a completely new experience for me. The most popular was Ohm Pawat, who has over five million Instagram followers and whom I met at university.

I am currently a second-year student, so I plan to complete my internship next year as part of the course curriculum. I hope to complete this with GMMTV, a television production and talent management company under GMM Grammy. I would love to work in a creative role such as concept planning or artist management.

I currently live in the suburbs of Bangkok, Thailand, as my university campus is situated outside the city. I live in a flat complex filled with students and regularly travel into the city centre. ... See MoreSee Less

Enniskillen Royal Grammar School

1 day ago

A huge well done to our ERGS athletes who competed against the best of NI schools in today’s Ulster Athletics Championships at the Mary Peters track in Belfast.

Tori Lilly put in a superb run in the 300m hurdles to finish 4th in the final and also ran in the 80m hurdles finishing 5th in her heat.

Poppie Beddard missed out on a place in the final of the inter girls 200m placing 5th in her semifinal.

Alex Irvine ran a superb race in challenging wet conditions in the senior boys 5000m.

Annabelle McKenzie took the bronze 🥉 in the Inter Girls 1500m Steeple Chase

and last but by no mean least, Nicole Stickland, after placing 5th in the Junior long jump, went on to take the gold medal 🥇 in the junior girls 100m final with a superbly dominant run of 13.53s.

Overall another great day for ERGS sport! ... See MoreSee Less