The last time the British & Irish Lions came together when they toured South Africa four years ago, North was still a pupil at Llandovery College.
But having been selected by Warren Gatland to tour Australia, the 21-year-old believes all the hard work put in since then with Scarlets and Wales at international level has paid off.
North made 14 appearances for Scarlets in the RaboDirect PRO12 in the 2012/13 season but unfortunately couldn't help his side past Ulster in their play-off semi-final clash.
But the Northampton Saints-bound North hopes to finish his long season, which saw him help Wales retain their Six Nations crown, with a bit more success Down Under.
"When you start playing rugby you want to play at the next highest level and work your way through the systems," North told Wales Online. "I progressed to the Scarlets and Wales. Then you move on to the next challenge, which is here now.
"It's been a lot of work to be here but it's paid off, not just for me but the others in the squad. It was the best feeling in the world when I heard my name in the squad. It was pretty awesome, surreal.
"I'm pretty stoked to be here. The plan then [at college] was just to play rugby. If that didn't work I don't know what I would have done.
"You have that seed of doubt where you don't know what's going to happen. I would have been knackered really. There was no plan B.
"You kind of realise where you are when you're trying on your suits and stuff and sat between Paul O'Connell and Conor Murray and there's Sam Warburton and Manu Tuilagi across the room.
"You realise it's a kind of a big deal after that. It's been a long season but, hopefully, we'll finish it with a sweet win."
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