Putting your name out there can be daunting - but it can also be the way to open doors.
Cameron Moffitt has found that at a young age.
The 15-year-old was selected for the New Zealand secondary schools athletics team to head to Cairns for the Australian All Schools Championships in December.
Having made the children's team to attend the same event last year, he decided to put his name forward for the secondary schools team this year.
Aware that it would be a far tougher team to make, he did not do so with big expectations.
However, it turned out to be a good decision.
He was one of seven boys chosen for the team, particularly impressive given he is still in year 11 at Otago Boys' High School.
That made him one of only two South Islanders to make the travelling team and the only Otago athlete.
He will compete in the 100m hurdles and 200m hurdles and is excited to get there.
Last year's experience had proven valuable.
He had got fourth in the 100m event and fifth in the 200m.
This time around he hoped to do better.
The competition over there was on another to level to New Zealand and that could help push you along, Cameron said.
Indeed nationally he had fared well, last year winning the junior 100m hurdles title at the national secondary school championships.
He hoped to defend that title again this year, his last season in the junior age group.
Finding competition locally could be tougher, as there were a limited number of hurdlers around, he said.
''It's more trying to beat your own time each week, instead of having heaps of guys with you to race,'' he said.
''It's you against yourself, really.''
Alongside his hurdling, Cameron liked to give various events a go.
He often competed in the throws with success, although said his focus was on the hurdles.
Alongside Cameron making the travelling team, John McGlashan College's Josh Hou was named as one of two non-travelling reserves.
