Age: 17
Hometown: Glasgow
What sport are you involved in and what is it that you love about it?
I was inspired to start cricket, the sport I am currently involved in by watching my brother play when I was younger. Although cricket’s rules were confusing to me at the time (as it seems to be for many people who aren’t used to it), cricket’s overarching atmosphere, sporting a combination of competition and camaraderie was something that drew me to it - even at a young age… After playing for my local club team, the Glasgow Accies at a junior and senior level for a number of years, I began playing for the girls regional team, the Western Warriors, and for the West of Scotland Women’s team in the recently created Women’s Premier League (WPL). Currently, I am in the Under-19 girls Scotland squad along with the previously mentioned teams and I also hope to begin coaching cricket in the foreseeable future. I love cricket because of the many aspects and levels that are integrated into the game. When I began, bowling was my favourite aspect of cricket and the tea (lunch) was my favourite part of full-day matches, but as I’ve continued to play, I have come to love batting and fielding too and I appreciate the many roles involved in the game. When I fractured my thumb two years ago mid-season, I was able to remain involved by scoring and watching - in cricket, there really is something for everyone and the integrally inclusive nature of the sport itself is what I love most about it.
What motivated you to be part of the Young People’s Sport Panel?
Sport has given me so much in terms of self-confidence, health and motivation - I wanted to be able to give something back to sport and be involved in creating a positive path for future young athletes. Since I go to an online school, I wasn’t able to apply for any Young Ambassador positions or coach/help out my school sports teams, but when I came across the YPSP and looked into the amazing accomplishments of previous cohorts, I was inspired to be a part of the YPSP6 so I could also have the opportunity to shape the future of sport in Scotland for the better. After attending one of the sportscotland events, I was blown away by the incredible family-like atmosphere between so many people who all had a shared love of sport that brought them together. I’m really looking forward to being a part of that and having some amazing experiences while we work to make all sports in Scotland as inclusive, accessible and welcoming as they can be! :)
What do you think are (some of) the big challenges facing young people in Scotland today?
Nowadays, there is so much pressure on young people in Scotland - as teenagers, we are expected to have decided upon a career path that we will follow for the rest of our life while preserving grades, growing up and maintaining our social lives. Often, young people are given the impression that going into university straight after school is the only option, and this makes it easy for young people to get stuck in a career that they dislike because they weren’t able to make up their mind. In reality, there is no need for this kind of pressure as although it is obviously important to have structure and intention in your life, not every young person will follow the same path to find their purpose. It is okay to take a deep breath and consider your options, if you find yourself in the middle of a degree which you hate, there is also no rule saying that you can’t explore other options.
How do you think sport can help support young people in Scotland?
With young people today facing more challenges than ever, sport provides a support system that can be tailored to suit their specific needs. All sports can provide a necessary and welcome break from the school as well as improving fitness and supporting the physical health of young people. Sport is also good for emotional support as exercise produces endorphins, ‘the happy hormone’, and playing sports is often motivational and gives you a sense of purpose. Due to the pandemic and the rise of social media, young people have found it increasingly harder than previous generations to socialise with people they don’t know offline. Team sports such as football, rugby and cricket can support young people socially as it is often easier to connect with others over shared experiences.
Is there a role model who inspires you? What is it about them that you admire?
Although I never used to watch much basketball, after seeing Netflix’s documentary, 'The Last Dance', Micheal Jordan has become a big role model for me due to his competitiveness as well as the dedication he has to his sport. Micheal Jordan didn’t just play basketball, he motivated his teammates as well as his competitors to improve and raised the profile of basketball to be famous all around the world. Watching him inspires me to raise the profile of sport in Scotland and strive to be a person who can influence others to be the best versions of themselves like Micheal did.