Life as a senior high school student is already busy for Everett teen Nicole Prince, and it’s getting more hectic.

This summer the 17-year-old St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School student is representing Alliston at the Top Teen of Canada competition in British Columbia.

Before Prince leaves she must host a local fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. She also needs to secure sponsors to cover the $2,300 cost of her flight, hotel, and workshops for the competition.

August 17 to 23, Prince will be in Vancouver, B.C. competing against 40 youth from across the country. During the week she will attend workshops on self-defense, manners and etiquette, stress management, health and fitness, among others.

One portion of the competition also requires the youth to make a presentation on their community and wear a regional costume.

For this part, Prince wants to let her quirky side shine and hone Alliston’s roots as the potato capital of Ontario.

“To dress up as a potato would be absolutely phenomenal, so I think that’s what I’m going to do,” said Prince.

Based on the delegates’ participation in the workshops a panel of judges will select 16 youth to compete in the semifinals and do an on-stage interview. Five finalists will make it to the final round.

“Ultimately the winner of Top Teen of Canada becomes a role model of youth interests across the country,” said Darren Storsley, Top Teen founder.

Although the competition is on the west coast, local residents can help Prince. In July contestant profiles are going up on www.topteenofcanada.com and people can vote for the People’s Choice Award. The winner of the People’s Choice Award is guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.

Qualifying for the Top Teen competition is the culmination of a busy high school career for Prince.

“Every time there’s been something I’ve just done it and helped out,” said Prince.

Currently, Prince is vice president of St. Thomas’ student council, is organizing a graduation trip to the Dominican Republic, planning for prom and securing a co-op for next year. Since her Grade 9 year she has earned 360 community volunteer hours, most of which she’s earned since the beginning of Grade 11.

Prince first got in tune with volunteering her time to organize events after attending a band show in Alliston a couple years ago.

She loved the experience of the concert, but there was nobody to organize the shows so she took on the duty herself. Last year she also arranged a dance for a Tottenham boy with cancer and raised $3,000.

She is looking to draw on her previous experiences for Top Teen of Canada, but has plans to improve herself through the workshops. By the end of the experience she said one goal is to speak to a group of people without freezing.

“It’s going to be different, which is why I’m excited,” said Prince.