John Paul College Head Girl Anna Douglas is focused on helping others through her actions.

Anna has decided to put her plans to start a degree in global studies at Auckland University on hold to spend 2020 volunteering in the small rural community of Balgo, Western Australia.

'It has 500 people there and I am going to help out at a little primary school. I am going for a year as a Lasallian volunteer which is part of our school programme. I really like to help others,” she says.

Anyone who knows Anna will not be surprised to know she has made that decision.

During her time at John Paul College, she's assisted at the Sunset Breakfast Club, St Mary's Gala, Upper Atiamuri Primary swimming sports, the Day of Giving at Teal Kitchen and helped run the Blood Drive.

Anna's other great passion is sport.

She has made an impact in rowing, basketball and football. She is one of the rowing captains at John Paul College and loves to give back by coaching junior girls' basketball and rowing teams and refereeing basketball.

Anna says basketball runs deep in the Douglas family.

'My mum was a national league referee and so it kind of runs in the family. I played for a bit and I wanted to help out the sport as they were kind of struggling for referees. It was quite fun and rewarding.

'With my junior basketball team I wanted to spread the word about basketball because it has been such a big part of my family.”

Her selection as one of the 2019 Rotorua Young Achievers is something Anna has set as a goal since she started at John Paul College.

'In Year 9 I remember seeing all the winners up on the wall at school and I remember wanting to have one. I also remember there was a rowing winner and that was exactly what I wanted to do.

'So it was pretty cool when I heard that I got it. I am pretty proud of myself, yeah.”

* The annual Young Achievers awards are sponsored by the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust (RECT) for success across sports, cultural, community, academic and leadership fields.