Cabral will make a first-rate paediatrician.

This week, the university-bound Paget teenager capped nearly four years of service at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by becoming Bermuda's Candy Striper of the Year.

"She's wonderful,'' volunteers director Ms Shirley Leach said of Miss Cabral yesterday. "She's always willing to work -- and with a smile. She really is a great choice.'' Miss Cabral, 17, beat out five other winners of the hospital's 1994 proficiency awards to take the title, which is granted on the basis of such criteria as personality, punctuality and number of hours logged.

"I've worked over 600 hours altogether,'' said Miss Cabral, who joined King Edward's four-year striper programme in the summer of 1991.

"In August, I can choose to become a Pink Lady, which everyone can do after the age of 18, but I think that I'll be pretty much away at school.'' Miss Cabral, who plans to study paediatrics in Canada, would eventually like to work with terminally ill children, an idea that was planted not by her work at the hospital but by her mother.

"A few months ago my mother said that if she could go back in time she would like to do that kind of work,'' Miss Cabral explained. "And I thought: I would like to do that as well.'' Added the teenager: "I'll probably be in school for the rest of my life.'' During her years at the hospital, Miss Cabral has had a wealth of opportunity to prepare for such a career, experiencing both the ups and downs of modern-day medicine.

"Working (with the elderly) in extended care is always an experience,'' she said by way of example. "It takes a lot to see so much pain.'' On the other hand, the Saltus student added: "I have so many pleasant experiences everyday. It's just so nice to know that you can make a person's day a little brighter.'' Appropriately, Miss Cabral pointed to the children's ward as one of her favourite postings.

STRIPER SUPREME -- Candy Striper of the Year Miss Veronica Cabral plans to study paediatrics in Canada during the latter part of this year.