Adventurer Molly Turnbull is crowned Young Scot 2023 by First Minister

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Adventurer Molly Turnbull conquered new heights last week when she was crowned our overall Young Scot of 2023 by First Minister Humza Yousaf.The 18-year-old, who trekked to Everest Base Camp earlier this year and helped raise more than £15,000 for the Polar Academy, received a standing ovation at our glittering festival-themed ceremony.After accepting the award Molly, who completed the gruelling 130km 17,598ft climb last month, told how the charity, which offers vulnerable children the chance to take part in an Arctic expedition, had brought her out of her shell and changed her outlook on life.Holding back the tears, the teenager, from Freuchie, Fife, said: “The Polar Academy has had an amazing impact on my life and on me as a person.

I was bullied at school, which knocked all my self esteem.“I had no faith in myself, no confidence to talk to anyone or do anything remotely challenging.

I couldn’t push myself and didn’t want to do anything that would put me in a situation where I may have stood out.“However, going through The Polar Academy has changed all of this.

Through the training, the expedition and all the challenges I faced, I learnt how to believe in myself.“This has given me so much more confidence to do and try so many new things.