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"I think it's important to be your own person and to do what you want to do."

Sam Harper鈥檚 cricketing success may well have begun on the pitches at Yarra. Now a wicket keeper for Victoria, Sam joined the School in Year 2 and played a raft of sports.

鈥淚n Year 12 we鈥檇 play 鈥榯ricket鈥� 鈥� a cross between tennis and cricket using a tennis racquet and a high bounce ball. Cricket was my favourite sport but I also had a lot of fun playing football and hockey,鈥� says Sam.

鈥淚 always just wanted to be a cricketer and I wanted to be the best cricketer that I could be. I鈥檓 living my dream.鈥�

Sam has many good memories of his time at Yarra, such as a 鈥榯errible鈥� audition for the Year 6 musical that nonetheless saw him open the show with an American accent! And during Year 10 he was part of a cricket and tennis tour to England.

In Year 11 he got his first cricketing contract so spent his VCE years managing study and professional sporting commitments.

鈥淚 had no time to waste during Year 12. I was either at school, studying or playing cricket and training,鈥� he says.

鈥淏ut I had great people around me at school and my family encouraged me to give things my best crack and that鈥檚 what I did.鈥�

After graduating, Sam started studying teaching and PE before cricket took over. He made his debut in the Sheffield Shield season in 2015-16 and his one day cup debut season in 2016-17.

Sam has a strong faith and champions the importance of good mental health by volunteering with the Resilience Project.

鈥淚鈥檓 an advocate for mindfulness and mental wellbeing and for people to achieve their best. My faith is important in keeping me grounded and it reminds me to appreciate the moment I am in,鈥� he says.