"I tend to get bored if I'm not doing anything," the Smith's Hill High student said.

"I like keeping myself busy."

Cassie is 17 - "I'm 18 in 15 days" - and a star. Her already glittering resume boasts high jump athletics records, state championships and international competitions; victory in state debating championships; and selection for the prestigious National Youth Science Forums in Canberra and Perth.

In the midst of hunkering down for her Higher School Certificate, she is preparing to jet to Stockholm as one of two Australian representatives at the International Youth Science Seminar in November.

"It's one week with 25 young scientists from all over the world," Cassie said.

"Australia is the only country promised two places every year. It's an incredible opportunity to network with a lot of other young people around the world interested in science."

The choice of location is no accident. The seminar is arranged in conjunction with the Nobel Prize awards, with participants given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the Nobel science prize ceremony and mingle with Nobel laureates.

"We get the chance to go to places like the Stockholm research centre, and there's a lot of interaction with the Stockholm university," she said.

Participants also conduct a week-long research project, which is presented to more than 600 laureates and Swedish university students at the end of the seminar.

Cassie will take off for Sweden on November 21, a few weeks after her HSC exams conclude. The year 12 student is studying an eclectic mix of modern history, extension two English, biology and advanced maths. While for many students extracurricular activities fall by the wayside as preparations - and stress - for the HSC ramp up, Cassie has gone the opposite way.

In addition to her high jump training sessions, the Woonona resident has added running sessions and indoor soccer to her weekly schedule. But rather than increasing her stress, she said these commitments actually helped clear her head and relieve tension.

"It's just the biggest stress relief. The main reason I keep it up is because I enjoy it so much," she said.

"It's really important to have those breaks from study sometimes," she added.

She admits juggling school, her forum commitments and her sport schedule is sometimes a difficult task. But at the same time, she believes keeping busy is the best way forward for her.

"There is pressure that comes, but I like being so involved because it opens up so many opportunities for you," she said.

"I've never been pressured into anything, these things just came up and I've wanted to do them because they have led me to so many more opportunities."

Cassie is preparing for her trial HSC exams to begin on Monday, but is also madly trying to raise the money needed to finance her trip, admitting she is "trying to sell lots of those Cadbury fund-raising chocolates". She and her family are searching for donations or sponsorships from local businesses or Rotary clubs. For more information, call Ken Lieschke on 0408 650 142.