Extra Effort Pays Off for Athens Drive Student

Brinson is a young woman who is not afraid to be a leader.

"Growing up in my family, you were outgoing. Everybody was outgoing," she says. "Leadership really drives me. I've never been a follower, so I'm always leader of the pack."

Brinson is an exceptional student, who is one of the top 15 students in her class.

"I know that academics comes first, and to be a student-athlete, you have to be a student first," she says. "Academics has always been an important part of my life."

Christopher Remaley, Athens Drive teacher, says she is, without a doubt, one of the best students in the school.

"Leslie is the type of person who you can describe as being the one who is going to make it in this world," he says. "She has the academics, the attitude and personality. She is a great overall person."

Brinson says one of her great high school highlights is being a part of the team.

"These teams at Athens are amazing. The girls here have a lot of sisterhood. Everybody is best friends with everybody else," she says. "Times get really tough, but as long as you know that the friendship bond is still there, it is great. It has been like that for all three teams that I have been on."

Leslie Brinson is this week's winner of the Extra Effort Award. Tom Suiter's Extra Effort award airs Wednesdays during WRAL's 6:00 News.

Do you have a nomination for the Extra Effort Award?Mail us your suggestions.