Bethan Gill, Frankie Howarth and Rhiannon Bracher are finalists in this year's Student of the Year awards.
Rhiannon Bracher, The Sele School, Hertfordshire
When she first arrived at The Sele, Rhiannon, found it big challenge to adjust to her new Secondary school. She suffered from low self-confidence and found it difficult to develop relationships.
A big breakthrough came, however, when teachers introduced an innovative Sky Sports Living for Sport lacrosse project that saw her grow in confidence and develop outstanding leadership skills.
With the encouragement of Athlete Mentors Jeanette Kwakye and Mike Mullen, Rhiannon quickly flourished. She soon found that the skills she developed from the project, and the self-belief that her Athlete Mentors had instilled in her, helped her to put her nerves to one side and to focus on using her skills to help others. Rhiannon even went on to proactively approach a Welsh international lacrosse player to develop her coaching techniques.
Having engaged Athlete Mentor Mike's assistance to organise a lacrosse festival - to which parents were invited - she was then chosen by the English Lacrosse Association to help with the National Schools Pop Tournament, and was given responsibility for scoring for the day. This was a big moment for Rhiannon, who visibly grew in confidence as she relished the responsibility and discovered her inner leader.
Now in her final year at The Sele School, Rhiannon's next step is to take up a place at Shuttleworth College to study Animal Welfare having already received an unconditional offer. It is a real indication of just how much her confidence, and subsequently her grades, has improved - and a fine example of how Sky Sports Living For Sport can help change young lives.
Watch Game Changers with David Beckham and Jessica Ennis-Hill live on Sky Sports 1 on Tuesday from 4.30pm.
To find out more about Sky Sports Living for Sport - a free secondary schools initiative that uses sport stars and sport skills to boost confidence, change behaviours, increase attainment and improve life skills -
click here.
