It became a focus of his religious life and would later influence his choice of career. Durham's headmaster, Dr Henry Holden, a classical scholar and an educational reformer, was soon taking interest in the new student. With Holden's encouragement, Creighton began to win prizes in classical subjects, in English, and in French. During his last year at Durham, he was promoted to head boy of the school, a position that appealed to his great desire to influence people, especially younger boys. Although he aimed to do this by setting an example with his high moral life, he did not, in an era of universal corporal punishment, hesitate to use the rod. In a letter written to a Durham school monitor after Creighton had left the school, he advised, "Remember, never thrash a fellow a little, always hard: and it is always well that he be thrashed by more than one of the monitors"  Creighton was severely shortsighted; he also suffered from double vision, which forced him to read with one eye closed. Since the visual handicap also limited his participation in vigorous sport, he took enthusiastically to walking. His tours of the countryside, often with companions, covered over twenty miles a day and lasted several days. Walking gave him many opportunities to exercise his abiding curiosity in the local botany and architecture. The habit was to remain with him for rest of his life. In the spring of 1862, Creighton applied unsuccessfully for a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford. He applied next to Merton College, Oxford for a classical postmastership. His application proved successful and Creighton arrived in Oxford in October 1862. He continued to take great interest in the Durham Grammar School. In a hand-me-down family story, he is said, in 1866, to have walked from Oxford to Durham in three days to hear speeches at a school function. Creighton's postmastership of £70 a year was enough to cover his tuition at Merton, but not much more. For his other expenses he had to ask his father, whose gruff manner made asking difficult. Under the circumstances, Creighton lived economically in college attic rooms for most of his time at Merton. In his last year he moved out of college to share rooms with George Saintsbury (1845-1933), the future authoritative critic of English and French literature, prolific author, and wine critic. Although Creighton's shortsightedness prevented his participation in cricket and football, he was able to join the college rowing team.