Former Assumption College student Isabel Natividad makes big waves winning 7 NEWS Young Achievers Award

A former Assumption College student who created lasting change at her school has revealed what it takes to be a leader after taking out a major Queensland award.

A former Warwick student has taken home the top prize after being nominated for a major leadership award in Queensland.

Isabel Natividad, a former Assumption college student, won the First National Real Estate Leadership Award in Brisbane last week for her amazing achievements and overcoming adversity.

The 18-year-old Wakka Wakka woman, who now studies science in Melbourne, was a finalist in the category at the 2023 7 NEWS Young Achiever Awards.

Former Assumption College student Isabel Natividad took out the Leadership Award last week. (Photo: supplied)

Ms Natividad was Assumption’s first ever inclusivity leader, won art prizes at UniSQ, designed NAIDOC shirts for her school, claimed a ‘best pitch’ award at a UQ event and overcame personal challenges on her way to being recognised by the prestigious award.

Ms Natividad said she felt a rush of happiness when she found out she had won the award.

“It felt like an accomplishment but not just for myself, but for a lot of the communities that I personally support, it was a large feeling of accomplishment and gratitude,” Ms Natividad said.

Former Assumption College student Isabel Natividad at the 2023 7 NEWS Young Achiever Awards. (Photo: Supplied)

“It was a big achievement that felt like it was the culmination of a lot of the thing that had been happening over the years and what I had been striving towards the whole time at school.”

Ms Natividad said it was great to know that she had made a difference for marginalised communities, and that things she had learnt about being a leader was useful still in life after school.

“The quality that makes a good leader is compassion and empathy, because you can’t represent a group without understanding what they go through on the day-to-day, you need to understand every individual,” she said.

Former Assumption College student Isabel Natividad at the 2023 7 NEWS Young Achiever Awards. (Photo: supplied)

“One thing I’ve taken from that part of my life is the power of community, I would have people come up to me and talk to me and it really created a comfortable community and I learnt how powerful that is.

“This year I’ve found a large group of people that are proud and strong and have helped me come out of my shell and make change in the places we go, so I’m really happy with that.

“Community is the biggest thing that can really help marginalised people flourish.”

Ms Natividad’s mother, Dee, said the award was just the start with “big plans” to come.

Originally published as Former Assumption College student Isabel Natividad makes big waves winning 7 NEWS Young Achievers Award