Through experience he knows the important lessons it can teach you.

Nicholas recently won the local round of Lions Youth of the Year, where the application process involved an interview and speech.

"I spoke about failure," said Nicholas. "Because I did the competition last year and I stuffed up my speech in the middle, and completely failed and came last in the competition.

"So I talked about that and reflected on last year's failure coming to this year."

Nicholas, who is vice captain at Taree High School, has been a contributing member to his school's Student Representative Council for four years.

In this time he has attended various community events such as the local youth forum and Anzac Day commemorations.

His greatest achievement for the school was gaining a $20,000 grant through his role as head of the technology committee.

This was used to purchase digital monitors around the school that display students' achievements and annoucements.

Outside of school Nicholas has attended a Taree Baptist Church youth group, Emersus for six years, where they fundraise for charity Compassion Australia.

Nicholas will compete in the zone round of Lions Youth of the Year at Lake Cattai.

He will once again sit an interview and deliver a speech, where he plans to change his topic.

"I'm still searching, it has got to be the right one," he said.