Born to lead

With final year exams approaching, time management is becoming crucial as Year 11 and 12 VCE students across the state bury their heads in their textbooks.
While a strict study routine is important, students should still maintain some extracurricular activities according to Casey’s 2006 Young Citizen of the Year, Shannon Barnes.
Shannon believes VCE students need to make time to relax away from studying.
“We are at school all day so we need a break from studying at some point,” she said.
Shannon is a Year 11 student at Eumemmerring College with her sights set on a career in sports medicine.
A broken ankle from a sports injury left Shannon physically impaired for a few weeks last year.
Instead of dwelling on the injury, Shannon stumbled upon a career.
She decided she wanted to get into sports medicine after being frustrated at the time it took to recover from a broken ankle.
“I want to be in a career that helps people find solutions,” she said.
Helping people is certainly not something new to the optimistic teenager.
She won the Young Citizen of the Year Award after her long list of leadership roles caught the mayor’s attention.
Her activities include being a Girl Guide leader, being a member of the Student Representative Council at her school, being a Peer Support leader, taking part in the ‘Big Brother, Big Sister’ program and volunteering at Anaconda Child Care Centre.
Mayor Kevin Bradford described Shannon as a “quiet achiever whose achievements speak volumes.”
“Shannon is a classic example of a young person who is driven and community minded,” he said.
Cr Bradford said many young people today sat back and did not make the effort to try and make a difference.
He said he would like to see more young people become actively involved in the community, like Shannon.
“If young people get involved in the community it is bettering the community we live in,” Cr Bradford said.
A community panel, including the mayor, judges the annual award. The winner is chosen based on their history of community involvement.
Shannon is modest about her achievements.
“I was shocked that I was even nominated for the award,” Shannon said.
She said her desire for community leadership began at an early age.
The only girl in a set of triplets, Shannon is the recognised leader of the siblings.
“I was born first and that role has stayed with me ever since,” she said with a laugh.
She says her two brothers are happy about her achievements but a little “too competitive” to admit it.
“We have a bit of sibling rivalry,” Shannon said.
She believes rivalry is a particular issue for triplets because they have to struggle to be individual.
“My brothers ganged up on me when we were younger,” Shannon said.
Despite their sibling quarrels, the triplets study together when they can.
“We usually study biology and history together because we’re in the same subjects.”
Despite her VCE study load, Shannon plans to continue her community work.
“I have a lot of homework but I still find time for other activities,” she said.
“Young people should try and get out into the community when they can.”
Shannon attends Girl Guides twice a week, works part time at Ritchies Supermarket and plays sport for her school.
During a scout camp at Ballarat in August she led guides through old gold mines and taught abseiling.
She is an accredited abseiling instructor. “Abseiling isn’t scary – it’s exciting,” she said.
After meeting fellow youth ambassadors from England and America during Casey’s National Youth Week in April, Shannon hopes to travel overseas next year.
As part of the Youth Week events, over 500 young people took part in activities such as jewellery making, light globe painting, art displays and games.
Shannon helped host the event and was proud to show what Australian culture had to offer.
“I wanted the ambassadors to experience a part of Australian youth,” she said.
Shannon believes every culture has something special.
She finds the Irish culture particularly interesting and plans to travel to Ireland after she completes her schooling.
When asked about her exams Shannon said she was determined to put in her best effort.
“Anyone can achieve anything if they work hard,” she said.
A Year 11 student at Eumemmering College’s Hallam campus, Shannon is tackling a Year 12 health subject this year.
She recommends students prioritorise their studies with outside activities.
“Balance your study and activities by what is most important. Unfortunately, social life comes last,” she laughed.
Eumemmerring College’s Hallam principal, Andrina Young, said Shannon was an inspiration to other students through her balance of schoolwork and outside activities.
“She is a wonderful role model to her fellow students in her community service and with her excellent academic record,” Ms Young said.
“Shannon Barnes is an example that young people can directly relate to,” she said.