Like many of her fellow students, Brittany Johnson had to maintain a fine balance between academics and extracurricular activities throughout her four years at R.D. Parker Collegiate high school.
On June 19 Johnson’s hard work paid off handsomely when she was formally presented with $1,000 for winning this year’s McDonald’s Leadership Award.
According to a press release sent by the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association, this scholarship is being given to 16 high school students across the province who have “maintained a minimum 75 per cent average and demonstrated exceptional leadership in high school sport, school and community involvement.”
Throughout her high school career, Johnson’s sport of choice was soccer, where she gradually shifted into a leadership role over time, even being named one of RDPC’s athletes of the month back in October.
In fact, this year she helped the senior girls’ soccer team break Flin Flon’s almost decade long death grip on the regional zones tournament title, all while maintaining a 91 per cent average in her classes.
“I like to stay on top of things, so I don’t find it that hard,” she said. “If you’re really passionate about the sport you’ll make the commitment to the school work too.”
Johnson was nominated for this award by RDPC phys-ed teacher and coach Jeff Paradis, who said she represents everything he looks for in a quality leader.
“At the end of the day, whether our teams are winning or losing, I want my athletes to always show good sportsmanship, to play hard until the end of the game and love the game,” Paradis wrote in an email to the Nickel Belt News. “Brittany does all of that, and that's why I was proud to nominate her.”
During a June 14 conversation with the Nickel Belt News, Johnson didn’t hesitate when asked what she was going to do with the $1,000, revealing that the money is going straight to her post-secondary education.
“I’m going to Brandon University for the nursing program,” she said. “I’m just excited to be graduated and … I think it will be fun. My sister goes to Brandon, so I don’t think it will be that hard to transition over there.”
Moving forward, Johnson isn’t sure if she’s going to continue playing soccer at the post-secondary level.
But right now, she’s choosing to focus her energy on more immediate matters, like writing exams, finding a summer job and attending her upcoming RDPC graduation ceremony, which is taking place June 27 at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena.
