Posted December 2017.
Category: Careers, Engineering, Women in STEM
Footballing ace Anaya O’Brien is challenging stereotypes in more ways than one.
Not only has the 15-year-old played football for Aston Villa but she has also been named Key Stage 4 Student of the Year. The achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact that Anaya only joined the academy in May this year.
Anaya is working towards a career in automotive engineering and says that being a girl has never held her back in male-dominated sports or subjects. She believes that coming to WMG Academy has helped her become more confident and able to succeed.
Anaya said: “Coming here has made me more mature and sensible and I think it’s down to the ‘business-like, business-led’ ethos.
“At other schools they teach you to pass your GCSEs but here you realise why they’re important and you start to see them as a step to getting you where you want to be.”
Anaya played for Aston Villa for three years after being spotted by a talent scout. She now plays for Coundon Court and is enjoying the more relaxed approach to training so she can concentrate on working for her GCSEs.
Anaya said: “When I was younger I didn’t realise there were stereotypes and I know some people are bullied for trying to break them, but I’ve never experienced that so I am blessed. I would say to others that if you want to do something, just think about your future prospects and do it.”