Saasha (16), of Wanaka, is in year 12 and is studying physical education, English, maths, biology, chemistry and economics at level 2 NCEA level.
But the Maadi Cup single scull silver medallist is putting all her energy this week into the New Zealand trials, being attended by 60 promising junior and secondary school athletes.
"They've told us we will be rowing between 500m and 2km in any type of boat," Saasha said.
"They haven't told us if we will be in singles, quads or eights.
"We also have an erg test on a rowing machine for 2km, going as hard as you can.
"That's kind of the most important thing the triallists look at."
Ideally, Saasha would like to take 7min 20sec to complete her 2km erg test - or row at a pace of 1min 50sec for 500m.
"Generally people come off the erg test and they taken outside and they lie on the ground for half an hour before they recover.
"You just collapse.
"When I got tested here, we just had Dad and Dave [coach Dave Varney].
"Up there, they test you in a squash court, so they are all upstairs and look down on you."
Saasha is looking forward to being able to rub shoulders with elite Otago rowers already based at Karapiro - Lucy Strack, Hamish Bond and Fiona Burke - and living in an environment graced by her national sports heroes.
"We will be trialling out of the same shed that Mahe [Drysdale] races from.
"They have just upgraded the New Zealand shed about 18 months ago.
"The whole Karapiro facility they've redone, because they've got the elite world champs there this year.
"So it is a great time to be in the sport."
Saasha joined the Wanaka Rowing Club shortly after it was founded three years ago and is the only athlete from the foundation year still rowing with the club.
She decided to take up the sport because her father, physical education teacher Rob Bruce, and her grandfather, John Bruce, of St Leonards, were rowers.
The 70kg, 170cm athlete has had a successful season this summer, and has more than just the Maadi Cup silver medal to her name.
She has also won South Island club and secondary school medals, and paired with fellow Mt Aspiring rower Alex Winsloe to win the South Island under-17 club doubles title.
Beyond secondary school, the world is her oyster.
Saasha has already been invited to join the Southern Rowing Performance Centre after she leaves college but is considering a range of sporting and tertiary education options.
If she finds out on April 13 she has made the junior team, she will move to Lake Karapiro to train for about six months.
