Student equipped to change the world

Sneha Mishra's list of achievements and community awards in Bunbury spans several pages.

Making this more impressive is that the 17-year-old lived in her native Nepal just five years ago and had only a basic grasp of English.

It is scratching the surface to mention that she's a prefect at Bunbury Senior High School, plans to study medicine and aspires to set up an equivalent of the Royal Flying Doctor Service to help people in remote areas of her homeland.

She has topped Western Australia in a national spelling contest, helped her school become Country Week's speech and debating champions, been named her school's best mathematics student and involved with Headspace and United Nations Youth.

Earlier this year, she won a Zonta award for young women in public affairs and was nominated by her school to read the Anzac Requiem at last weekend's service.

Her interests include politics and neuroscience.

With the world at her feet and so many goals, it's little surprise she's aiming big.

"I still think I have a lot to achieve and contributing to the community is a major part of my life," she said.

"I'm really inspired by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

"Nepal doesn't have a service like that and I want to set up something similar for people in remote areas."

Sneha moved from Nepal to Australia with her family in 2010, initially settling in Melbourne before moving to Bunbury three years ago.

"It was a bit of a challenge as I only knew basic conversational English," she said.

"My parents really wanted a country with great weather and opportunities for the kids."

Nepal shaped Sneha's global perspective and the prospect of giving back to her homeland - where her grandfather was involved with the Nepalese Disabled Association - provides inspiration.

"When I was little, I grew up in an environment based on giving back to the community," she said.

"My grandfather devoted his life to helping people and those values have been instilled in me.

"I want to stay in Australia but go back to Nepal frequently enough to set up these facilities."

Sneha aims to work with Doctors Without Borders - "I just want to be a good doctor."

But from all her achievements, she selected two as standouts.

"Being involved with Headspace is my main achievement and I've also been fortunate enough to be a prefect," Sneha said.

She finds time for hobbies including dancing but with aspirations to be Bunbury Senior High School's dux this year, her studies are the focus.

"I wouldn't have been able to achieve anything without the opportunities provided by the school," she said.

"There is so much you can do and areas for everyone to excel."

Combining academic strength, a passion for global politics and women's rights, an interest in studying medicine with a softly-spoken but articulate nature and an appreciation for the opportunities afforded to her, Sneha is equipped with the tools to change the world.

"I still think I have a lot to achieve and contributing to the community is a major part of my life" - Sneha Mishra