So says Candystriper of the Year, Miss Raquel Emery, and it is behind the many successes in her young life.

"My parents were always there for me,'' she said. "My mother was at home, so she could see what my sister and I were doing. That is important. My advice to all parents is: Stand behind your children and encourage them.'' In fact, it was thanks to her mother that Miss Emery ultimately achieved the Candystriper award.

"It was my mother who suggested I become a Candystriper,'' Miss Emery said.

"At first, I was a little apprehensive, but then I found I really liked the work and I have enjoyed it very much.'' So much so, in fact, that Raquel never gave a thought to the possibility of receiving the organisation of hospital helpers' top award.

"Everything I have joined has taught me to persevere,'' she said. "It is just rewarding to succeed.'' From the time she joined the Candystripers in 1990, Raquel went about whatever task was assigned her with true dedication.

In the three years she served, she did everything from washing dishes in the Coffee Shop to pushing the hospitality cart, recording patients' menu requests, delivering messages between departments, and being a waitress.

Of all the tasks, the last was her favourite.

"I just like meeting people,'' she explained.

Candystripers are required to work several hours every other Saturday during the school year, and three days a week during school holidays. Where there are other demands on their time, Candystripers are expected to work around them.

"It is a commitment,'' Raquel said.

Stripes are awarded for increments of between 25 and 700 hours of service.

At the time of her award, Raquel had completed 400 hours.

Each year, there is a special ceremony at which stripes are given out and the top Candystriper is named. Raquel attended expecting to receive her 400-hour stripe.

"They announce the Candystriper of the Year last, and when I heard my name my jaw dropped open. I was totally surprised,'' she said. "Getting the award was the nicest thing that's happened to me.'' But then a lot of nice things have happened to Miss Emery.

As a Girl Guide, she was chosen to represent Bermuda at Peak '90, an international gathering in Chatsworth, Derbyshire, England, and she is also the holder of the Duke of Edinburgh bronze, silver and gold awards.

"Guiding was what got me involved in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. I went to Wales and I have also done the local Outward Bound course,'' she said.

A common denominator ran through her interest in all three.

"I like challenges,'' Miss Emery explained. "Outward Bound was the most challenging because I have problems with my knees, so I just had to go at my own pace and really tell myself that I could do it.'' In addition, she had to deal with the skepticism of her peers.

"I found that when I joined things, a lot of people look at me and say: `How could you do that?' But, 10 years down the road, it is self-evident that they are still carrying on in the same way. Everything I joined has caused me to persevere. It is rewarding to succeed.'' Miss Emery's sense of community service, first nurtured as a Brownie and also as a Ranger, shows no signs of abating. When her studies are completed -- she is presently a second-year arts and science student at the Bermuda College -- the teenager expects to resume community service in one form or another.

"I will probably always be involved in community work of some kind,'' she said. "It is a very positive way to spend any of your free time. Instead of thinking, `I'm so bored', you can be investing your time helping someone else.'' In her spare time, Miss Emery enjoys reading, needlework and tennis. An active correspondent, she has "about 25-30'' pen pals in many lands.

She is also looking forward to going abroad to college, and believes her career path will lead her into business.

"I haven't thought about my ultimate dream, though. I just want to be successful,'' she said.

Her advice to all young people: "Just do your best. That's all anybody can ask of you''.

SUPER ACHIEVER: Hard work and dedication paid off for Candystriper of the Year Miss Raquel Emery.

CONGRATULATIONS -- Candystripers' supervisor Mrs. Evelyn Latham (left) and Women's Hospital Auxiliary president Mrs. Kathleen Mayor (right) share Candystriper of the Year Miss Raquel Emery's proud moment.