The 16-year-old, grade-12 student has a bronze and silver award from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and is currently working toward his gold.

Nicholas also represented Bermuda at the World Debating Championships and is president of Mount St. Agnes Academy's student body.

Nicholas, who lives in Smith's Parish, admits that he does not have much time for hobbies, but does manage to play some tennis in his spare time.

He says that drugs are the number one problem facing society today. However he does not know exactly how society should attempt to solve the problem.

"There is a solution, but I do not know what the first step should be,'' he says.

Pacheco advises other young people, like his younger brother, to pay attention in class "because it cuts down by 50 percent the amount of home work you have each night''.

"It makes school easier, and education is so important,'' he adds.

Pacheco, whose favourite subject is mathematics, says that his father is his role model because of "his work ethic'' and his mother has had a great influence on him.

"It is difficult to live with someone for 16 years and not have them influence you,'' he says, adding that his mother's sense of what is right and wrong has had the biggest impact on him.

Pacheco is not sure what career he wishes to pursue when he graduates, but thinks that he would like to go to university in Canada.

When asked what would be the one thing he would change about Bermuda he said: "There are so many things I wish I could change. But I think I would chose the plans for the mega school because I think it is going to be a disaster.'' China is the country Pacheco would visit if given a ticket to go anywhere in the world.

"It is so different from our culture and what we have here,'' he says. "And I have always had a fascination with pandas.'' Pacheco says "Friends'' is his favourite television show, while basketball is his favourite sport, and Seal in his favourite musician. He does not have a favourite food.

NICHOLAS PACHECO