The 17-year-old Maniototo Area School head girl played a major role in organising the Maniototo Community Youth Centre which started up last year.
Each Friday night, youth in the area were able to hang out, watch television and use computers.
‘‘It gets them off the street [and] it's quite popular,'' she said.
Bethany felt it was important to set up a group for young people before she left for university.
Her interest in helping children carried through into facilitating youth courses in Central Otago.
So far she had done three and ‘‘got heaps of enjoyment'' from them as she was able to experience the change in participants by the end of them.
As well as working with young people, she is very keen on netball after starting the game in year 9. ‘‘I just love playing it,'' she said.
She had been to four area school tournaments and this year she was named the South Island area schools' most valuable player.
During her time at school she has also been involved in softball, volleyball, basketball and swimming.
Bethany enjoyed spending four days at a leadership camp in Wainui earlier this year, a highlight of which was abseiling down a ‘‘massive tree''. ‘‘You really stepped out of your comfort zone,'' she said.
One of her proudest achievements was becoming head student.
The role gives her a ‘‘wide range of experience'' in representing the school body and public speaking.
As head girl and youth worker, she honed her ability to ‘‘mix easily and interact with others'' which comes in handy at school as pupils range in age from 5 to 18.
Achievements: Head student; recipient of South Island Area School most valuable netball player award 2009; recipient of Central Otago Community and Leadership Award 2008; a founder of the Maniototo Community Youth Centre.
Role model: Princess Diana. ‘‘I just like what she did. She did what she wanted to do.''
Hopes for the future: She wants to attend the Dunedin College of Education at the University of Otago and then travel to Africa and teach in underdeveloped nations. She also intended to play netball competitively.