Old Hallfieldian Profile – Arjun Chauhan

We were delighted when Old Hallfieldian, Arjun Chauhan, got in touch to let us know he was visiting the UK from the US with his wife Ashley. We had a great time showing them around and hearing about Arjun’s time here from 1993-1999.  Arjun is pictured about, 3rd from left on the front row, with his teacher Mrs Mountford and his classmates from form 4P.

• What’s your favourite Hallfield memory?

In year 3 or 4 we went on a school ski trip to France. It was my first time flying without my parents and getting to spend multiple nights in a different country with my group of friends was fantastic! I also enjoyed learning how to ski.

• What were your favourite subjects at Hallfield?

I enjoyed Craft, Design and Technology (CDT). In that class, we made tools and various other items with wood and plastic. I remember making a pneumatic grabber with two syringes connected with tubing. It definitely made me feel quite accomplished to make things that had a purpose. I still have a few things that I made in that class.

• Where did you go to secondary school?

At the end of Year 4, my family relocated abroad, so the school I attended after Hallfield was Algonkian Elementary School in Sterling, Virginia USA. It honestly felt like I was taking a step back. Hallfield gave me so much independence, trusting us to move between classes alone at a young age which was absolutely not an option in the States. The idea of giving a nine-year-old a saw and a hand drill like we used in CDT would have been laughed at.

• Are you still in touch with your Hallfield friends?

When Facebook initially launched I found a few of my old friends on there and had some contact with them for a bit. When I came to visit Hallfield this year with my wife, we actually bumped into one of my classmates in the car park! He was touring the school with his baby who he hopes will follow in his footsteps by attending the school.

• Where did you go to University and what did you study?

After high school in Virginia, I attended Virginia Commonwealth University and got a degree in Religious Studies and a minor in Social justice. After that I attended Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated with a Doctorate of Pharmacy.

• What is your career?

I am currently a pharmacist and work for Costco in Boston, Massachusetts.

• What did you most enjoy about coming back to visit Hallfield?

Hallfield was such an integral part of my childhood and became somewhat mythologised over the years as I’ve told my wife so many stories. I really enjoyed showing her what ‘elementary school’ is like in the UK as it is so different in the States. I also loved seeing for myself how it looks now after over 20 years.

If you’d like to share what you’ve been up to since leaving Hallfield, contact our Alumni and Development Officer, Kat de Polo here.