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Goalkeeper Abbie Smith said her first call-up to the Northern Ireland senior squad was a "big surprise" as she looks to juggle international football with her GCSE exams.
The 16-year-old has been named in the senior squad for the first time after training with them last month.
Smith is now officially part of the panel for Nations League games against Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina, but she conceded she was slightly apprehensive when she got the call-up, given the clash with upcoming exams.
"I got the email on Monday, I was in my room and I said to my mum 'I think I just got into the senior squad' and I showed her the email. I was buzzing when I saw it," she told BBC Sport NI.
"The GCSE problem came into it, and I was a bit unnerved about that but it's working out in the end."
Smith is balancing her first senior call-up with her GCSE exams
With GCSE exams coming up whilst she is away in camp, the teenager says she will have to continue studying during downtime in NI's preparations for games against unbeaten group leaders Poland at Seaview and third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica.
"I've already had two exams and I have three over the camp, but I'll get it sorted and keep revising," she added.
The senior call-up marks another step in the Lisburn native's rapid rise after joining Manchester City on a two-year scholarship from Crusaders Strikers in March.
Despite having aspirations of playing for the senior side, particularly after training with the squad in Leicester as they prepared for their away trip to Romania last month, even Smith did not think the official call-up would come so soon.
"I thought I was going with the 19s to their camp over the weekend so it was a big surprise but I'm really excited," she said.
"Everyone was so welcoming when I trained last month, it was a nice experience and a nice intensity.
"It has always been my aim and for it to be so early it's unbelievable. I just want to get used to that environment and see what a senior camp is like."
Smith believes her experiences at City, where she has trained with senior goalkeepers like Khiara Keating and Katie Startup, can help her adapt quickly to life in the NI squad under Tanya Oxtoby.
She is also excited to train with Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who she has idolised.
"It's been really good at Man City to see what the standard is like and where you have to get to, it's so intense but it's really helping with my development," she explained.
"I always watched Jackie since going to the Northern Ireland matches and she's been someone I've looked up to so just being involved, training with her will be good."
Abbie's father Neil was a goalkeeper with Glenavon
Abbie comes from a family of goalkeepers, with her father Neil Smith previously lining up between the sticks for Irish Premiership side Glenavon.
As a result, Neil believes he is his daughter's "worst critic" but that he is immensely proud of all she has achieved so far.
"Everything has come so quickly, it has blown up in the last six months, she has done so well but she dedicates herself and is getting her rewards now. She's football mad," he said.
Like his daughter, Neil was also sceptical of how Abbie would manage to juggle time away with the senior side and her exams.
Now the practicalities have been worked out, he is delighted to be able to go and support her against Poland, even if she does not make it on the pitch at Seaview.
"After the initial excitement it was like 'What about the GCSEs?' but everything has worked out and the school has been brilliant with her," he added.
"Nothing fazes her, it is always let's move to the next level and hopefully that continues.
"We'll be there we don't expect too much but she will be there and about, and we will be there to support her."
