20-year-old Saltus Grammar School graduate is the first to admit he struggled through his academic studies on the Island and repeated a year at Saltus Junior School because he was not academically qualified for Saltus Senior School.

But after his first year studying for an Associate's Degree in Restaurant and Hotel Management at Becker College, in Massachusetts, he achieved a 3.87 grade point average and made the Dean's List.

He said he wants to go on to further his education with the goal of returning to Bermuda and securing a management position in one of the Island's hotels.

James is spending the summer working at The Princess to fulfil one of the requirements for his course which is to do work as an intern.

At Saltus Senior School he was a senior prefect and a house captain and he represented the school at rugby, volleyball, basketball and cricket, He also took part in other sports including soccer, tennis, badminton, water-polo and the Post Graduate Year's annual fashion show.

James ("Herbie to his friends) also received the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award after meeting his overseas requirements in St. Vincent. Over the three weeks he was there he completed basic training, jungle survival and community service.

He said he even helped locals prepare for a tropical storm by digging drainage ditches and securing breadfruit trees and farm animals.

At Becker College, James is in the International Club which meets weekly to discuss their respective cultural backgrounds.

He is also part of the Phi Theta Kappa -- an organisation made up of students who have grades in the top three per cent of their year and he said he has been asked to be a tutor for freshmen this semester. James said he is also the number two tennis player in the college and plans to join the student government this September.

During his vacations James represents the Cafe Acoreana basketball team, the Young Guns cricket team and Teachers Rugby Football Club.

He said he has played for Teachers 2nd XV since he was 16 and has represented Bermuda under-21s in the annual game against Young Renegades on New Year's Day. "I also won the award for Teacher's Rugby Football Club's most improved player,'' he added.

James said he also likes to fish whenever possible.

He described himself as outgoing, honest and straightforward and said he believes in equality and individuality.

He said he listens to all kinds of music particularly Enya and Bob Marley who is the person he would most like to meet.

He said he admires Bob Marley for what he stood for - peace, love and his religious beliefs. James said he feels people from all walks of life can appreciate what Bob Marley sang about and that is how he earned their respect.

He said he would also like to meet John Cleese because he feels the ability to make people laugh can work wonders.

James said if he could change one thing it would be the hatred between mankind. He said he believed that if everyone could unite then the majority of the problems in the world would cease to exist.

On the Island he said Government needs to do something for teenagers.

"They need an incentive besides going to bars and clubs, maybe youth cruises, dances, night sports, and concerts. But they must be controlled to stop the bad influence of alcohol and drugs getting in.'' He offered one piece of advice to young people and that is to "see the world and you will appreciate what we have here''.

James said if he could fly anywhere in the world it would be to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef or to Scotland and see why his mother is always referring to it as "God's country''.