Blacktown Girls High School student Erika Mercado’s first experience at video production has landed her a prestigious award.

The 14-year-old Year 9 student won first place in the Youth Voices Get Active video competition.

Erika’s creative video provides some simple steps to encourage young people to get physically active.

“I saw a flyer advertising the competition on Google Classrooms and thought it was a perfect opportunity to make a video, test my skills and to convey a really important message,” she said.

“(I had) to make a video about how to do physical activity and I put it into my own perspective.

“I had a small interest in video-making but never really pursued it because I had no ideas I liked and lacked motivation.

“But I like drawing. I like the creative aspect and I thought video making combines all of that so I could do something with my creativity, with my skills.”

Erika said she took a left-of-field approach to produce the video.

“As a person who doesn’t really like sports, I thought, ‘how can I make other people like me interested’,” she said.

“So, I thought, ‘let’s use their biggest weakness - technology - use it against them and make a video game-themed video’.”

Erika said she was “really surprised” she won the competition.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to win,” she said.

“I saw the videos from a few years ago and I thought they were way more creative and informative, and they had a humorous twist. Mine was just straightforward.”

Most importantly, the video has already achieved the aim of the organisers for getting at least one young person to be more active.

“It’s inspired me somewhat to do sport, but I wouldn’t do it competitively. Maybe just with friends,” Erika said.