Sarah is one of our 2018 Leadership Competition winners. You can check out her winning entry here and her bio below.
Describe yourself in 80 words or less.
I would like to describe myself as an adventurer. In the past two years I have experienced so many things that I never have before and that has led to me this point. Aside from this, I enjoy travelling, exercising and dancing. I aspire to be a criminal psychologist, while collecting adventures around the world along the way. I believe that women need to be more prominent in policing roles and I want to help drive this change.
How old are you, what grade are you in and what community/town do you live in?
I am 18 years old and I am currently repeating grade twelve (grade 13 for others). I live in Kununurra, a small town with around 6000 people, 3200kms away from our state capital, and 800kms away from any significant settlement/city.
Why did you enter Country to Canberra’s Leadership Competition?
I decided to enter the competition as I had never been offered such an opportunity, as well as the issue at hand being a challenging and relevant one that I am passionate over. The whole experience is a new thing to me, being from a hot, remote area where going barefoot is a daily get up, Canberra is like a different world and I think it is vital for me to be able to experience such a formal setting.
What do you hope to get out of the Power Trip to Canberra?
I’m really looking forward to being able to participate in the workshops as I feel like it will help develop me as a person and I wish to come out of this experience empowered with new experiences and knowledge. To be able to meet such important and powerful people will be a once in a life-time opportunity and so I wish to come out of the trip with solid connections.
Who is your role model and why?
My role model is Penny Wong. This is due to the fact that she is the first LGBT+ leader of the opposition in the senate. Her support of the legalisation of same sex-marriage shows the progressive minds entering into our society, as well as her cultural diversity and female gender making her a figure able to empower young girls to be like her.
What’s your favourite thing about living in rural Australia?
That would have to be the way that you can escape and go look at the night stars without having to travel a crazy distance. Just the ability to be able to shut off my phone, go outside and sit in the silence listening to the wildlife and watch as the stars blaze is the most relaxing thing I’ve ever felt.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about a lot of things. I find myself really brewing over issues such as gender rights, racial equality, global warming and corruption. I find that these are vital issues that need to be tackled in order for our society to be able to move forward.
What’s your favourite quote?
My favourite quote would have to be “You will never cross the ocean until you get the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
What’s your main goal/ambition right now?
My main goal is to finish my year 12 ATAR exams to the best of my ability so that I am able to make this year of repeating worth it to myself and to my parents! I want to leave a positive impact on the schooling communities and the teachers that have grown up with me through the years.
Tell us a couple of things you do to relax/have fun?
In my free time I like to sing, dance, hang out with friends and work. If you can’t find me at school your safest bet is to find me at work. I’m a passionate dancer although I am on a little break at the moment due to injury, but as soon as I’m ready to there’s nothing for me like jumping into a dance routine and smashing it out!
How do people stay in touch with you?
People usually stay in touch with me over things like snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and text. You can catch me on Facebook under: Sarah Rec, or you can check me out on Instagram at sarahrecklies.
Sarah’s Power Trip is kindly being sponsored by AgriFutures Australia!
