I would like to talk about how interesting it was when I first walked into the boarding house at St Patrick's College, how I feel about becoming a boarder, why my parents chose for me to board at St Pat's and how well the boarding staff look after me.

First, I can still remember my very first day at St Patrick's College. It was a very hot afternoon, high temperature.

My mum walked me into the St Patrick's College boarding house with a big suitcase and boarding director Mr Silcock was waiting for us. He is very friendly and he walked with me to my room and let me put my suitcase down. We then had a very good lunch with other new boarders.

I was a little bit sad when my Mum left me, but I didn't cry. I thought to myself I have to be independent now, I have to work hard to report back my parents' pay out.

I walked back to my room slowly, hanging up my clothes and shirt, spread the quilt and lying on it, planned my future.

I love boarding at St Pat's because I feel like we are a big family; the boarders help each other, play with each other and cheer for each other when they get an achievement.

It's a very nice living environment, a friendly and warm environment. I think it's better than my home. The boarding staff look after us the same as they look after their own children. They ask us how we slept and how we feel every morning, so that is why my parents never worry about how my daily life is.

For me, the St Patrick's College boarding house is my overseas home.

The hardware facilities in boarding are also good too: 24 hours' hot water, only two boarders living in one room, fresh fruit everyday, good meals and we can have cooked morning breakfast on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.

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The chefs are all good at cooking. You really should have a taste of their cooking.

There is laundry day every week, we only need to put our dirty clothes into the basket outside and Jo will wash it for us. So my Mum didn't have to worry that her son would be wearing dirty clothes or have nobody to wash his clothes for him.

My mum was the first person who decided to send me to St Patrick's College and let me board. It's a hard choice to let your son leave home to live and study overseas. But after she visited the boarding house at St Patrick's College, she dispelled all doubts and uneasiness.

Mum looked at how beautiful and perfect the St Pat's boarding and staff are, how friendly the living environment is and that it is a Catholic school.

My mum also believes that the students who study and live inside St Pat's will treat others in friendly way and look after others well.

Here is my story as a boarder living in boarding at St Patrick's College. I met my best buddy Dwayne Hayes at St Pat's boarding. We are playing sports everyday after school, doing activities and living in the same room. How good is that!

Eric Yang writes for SHOUT, The Courier's online youth platform.

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