The Lions Youth of the Year Program is designed to encourage, foster and develop leadership in conjunction with other citizenship qualities in youth at the age when they are about to enter the fields of employment or higher education. It provides students with the incentive to pay greater attention to the general qualities, so vital in developing our youth into first class citizens.  The qualities sought, apart from academic attainments are those of leadership, personality, sportsmanship, public speaking and good citizenship.  

On the recommendation of my English teacher Mrs Anderson I entered the Lions Youth of the Year Competition.  This involved completing an application form for the Booragoon Lions Club.  I was then invited to meet with three judges on Saturday 3 March for a 40 minute interview, then afterwards in front of the judges and club members respond to two impromptu questions, each within two minutes. Finally I was required to give a five minute speech on a topic of my choice.

I was fortunate to achieve the Public Speaking Award and was invited to be a take part in the Lions District Regional Final 2018 which was held on 17 March. Here I competed with six Perth Lion club finalists and spent the day getting to know them.  Once again I was privileged to become a District Finalist and be invited to  the State Finals on 25 March.  

I’m pleased that Mrs Anderson encouraged me to challenge myself and do something that is very much out of my comfort zone.  The Lions Club Competition has been a truly valuable experience that has enabled me to meet many other wonderful, talented and exceptional young individuals from a range of backgrounds with a wide variety of interests.  It has also been a pleasure to meet many generous and kind Lion club members that take such an active role in many facets of the community with the aim to make a difference in the lives of countless others.  I have found each of the people I have met to be inspirational and they have made me want to aspire to be a better person.  I highly recommend others to  apply and participate in this very honourable Competition.