By Michael Roberts | posted on March 20, 2020
LEADERSHIP is an attribute most of us have to work at, but for North Albany Senior High School (NASHS) Year 11 student Cheyenne Ashton, being a leader is part of her DNA.
Cheyenne enjoys being at the head of the pack, and it’s a skill that has come to her early in life.
The bubbly 16-year-old received the Outstanding Leadership Award at her primary school graduation and went on to become a student councillor at NASHS, where she received the Citizen of the Year Award in 2017 and the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award in 2019.
Not content with that array of accolades, Cheyenne wanted to grow her leadership skills further and decided to sign up for a Leeuwin Ocean Adventure.
Cheyenne left Albany on Monday afternoon for a Youth Explorer Voyage, where she will travel to Fremantle on a seven-day trip across the Indian Ocean.
During the voyage students work together in teams as they learn the language of tall ship sailing and become masters of ropes and lines, knots and sails.
Catching up with the Weekender before the STS Leeuwin II set sail from Albany, Cheyenne said it was a great opportunity to evolve her leadership skills.
“I like the challenges that come with leadership,” she said.
“I’m the kind of person who likes to help in any way they can.”
Despite little experience with sailing, Cheyenne said the trip combined her love of the ocean with working as part of a team.
“I feel like leadership comes naturally to me, it should be a great week,” she said.
“Apparently, some people throw up for the first three days, so hopefully I’m not one of them.”
