A BENDIGO student is hoping to give back to the community after receiving a 2020 YouThrive Victoria scholarship.
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Emily Brown, 18, was awarded the community leader scholarship after completing her Victorian Certificate of Education at Catherine McAuley College last year.
"There was a small link at the bottom of an email and it was talking about scholarships," Ms Brown said. "So I decided to just apply for it and see how I go because I love leadership and working with a team.
"I just thought it was an opportunity and I love taking opportunities. What's the worse that can happen? That I don't get it? So it was great to put my hand up and go through the interview process."
YouThrive Victoria provides a range of scholarships to support young people from regional and rural areas.
Ms Brown was recognised after being part of the Student Representative Council at Catherine McAuley College, serving as both junior and senior community leader and sports leader.
She was also college captain at Eaglehawk Secondary College in 2017.
Along with her school commitments, Ms Brown was also an active participant in the region's Energy Breakthrough events for five years.
She was also a member of the Aboriginal Dance Academy, participated in school productions and orienteering, and joined cultural exposure trips to the Northern Territory, Indonesia, and Samoa.
Ms Brown, who grew up in Bendigo, has moved to Melbourne to start a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at the Box Hill Institute.
She hopes to move into an early childhood education or acting degree at the end of the diploma.
"I moved to Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, which was an interesting transition going into the big smoke," she said. "But I'm happy that I have those two options and I'm not set in stone with something."
The 18-year-old said the scholarship would allow her to extend her leadership roles.
"It sounds like they give great support in terms of helping us get into what we want to do and come back and help with the community," Ms Brown said.
"I love children so I was hoping I could do some work with children in areas of need in a rural community."
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