By JOLENE OGLE
Local school girl Isabella Lynden never realised she was special.
She simply assumed all 17-year-olds were busy with five jobs while achieving A grades at school and chasing a dream job within the surfing industry.
It never occurred to her not everyone was doing the same.
“I guess some people have yoga or something to do for their quiet time,” she said. “Being busy and achieving something is my down time. I’m just a busy person. It’s how I’ve always been.”
Isabella is in her final year of high school and so far she can add School Captain of Sunshine Beach State High School, receptionist, and volunteer youth and community engagement manager for a personal development course to her already impressive resume, but Isabella’s heart belongs to the ocean.
Surfing since she was eight-years-old, Isabella said her dream is to one day work in the surfing industry as an event manager.
Having already organised a girls-only surfing day for her school, Isabella has big dreams to join the world surfing circuit.
“I have such a strong passion for surfing,” she said.
“I have organised a girls’ surf day in September 2014 at (school), which is another great success and is now a recurring event at our school.
“I am also helping out with all of the surfing competitions at school to help me gain as much experience as possible.”
In her spare time, Isabella also helps out at the Shotgun Shootout surfing events throughout Noosa beaches giving her a taste for her dream job.
“When I joined the Shotgun Surfboards team three months ago as their social media manager, they were speaking of running a surf comp for locals called the Shotgun Shootout,” she said.
“Straight away I offered to be the event manager and director, as it is what I aspire to do when I am older. I was fortunate enough to receive the position.”
Isabella said she feels privileged to experience her dream job and will be organising the next five events for Shotgun Shootout.
For anyone else looking to chase their dreams, Isabella said it’s all about just “giving it a go”.
“You don’t always know the answer until you ask the question,” she said.
“It’s also important to build relationships with young and older people.”
Isabella’s story is part of Noosa Today’s Youth Positive which highlights and celebrates the great things young people are doing in the community.
Anyone who knows of anyone who needs to be congratulated or celebrated should simply email newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au.
