For Lake Ginninderra College students Emmy Clarke and Silka Solomon, sport has always been a big part of their lives and one of their passions.

Emmy has played basketball for more than a decade after following in her family’s footsteps.

“My parents are heavily involved in basketball, and I have three older brothers and they all played so I was always around the stadium,” Emmy said.

“I remember mum having a rule that we couldn't start playing until we turned 7 because she didn't want us to burn out. But basketball just naturally grew on me, and I remember when I was 5, I'd ask if I could play all the time.”

Similarly for Silka, her love of golf was sparked by her parents.

“My grandad played, and my mum and dad met playing golf when they were 10. It was never forced on me and it was just something I grew up with. I caught the bug early and from then it's always been a huge part of my life,” said Silka.

Due to their ongoing commitment and success in their sports, both Emmy and Silka have gone on to receive sporting scholarships for universities in the United States. Silka will be attending Campbell University in North Carolina and Emmy will be attending Southern Utah University.

Both Emmy and Silka are looking forward to this new chapter of their lives and the independence that it will bring.

“It's now my turn to see what I can do. I can write my own path and I can finally say "this is me!"” Emmy said.

“Moving will be good for my golf as well, especially being in the environment of people who are so like-minded. America is the place for golf - you can start on a lot of tours over there, so getting involved in the atmosphere of competitive golf will be really beneficial,” said Silka.

Although they will both miss Canberra very much, especially the sense of community.

“I’m definitely going to miss going out in Canberra and seeing someone you know or someone you haven't seen in a while,” said Emmy.

“I’m going to miss the familiarity - just being able to go out and know people. But there's also an aspect of the unknown that I'm looking forward to,” agrees Silka.

Both Emmy and Silka are extremely thankful and grateful to everyone who has supported them while they’ve trained for up to 20 hours a week, from their family, their sporting communities and their teachers at Lake Ginninderra College.

“We're both extremely grateful - we know that not everyone gets this opportunity, and we just want to do everything we can that's right by not only our school but everyone back home that put all the time into us,” the girls said.