Anyone who knows Davida Morris will tell you it's not often she's lost for words.

However, the life-changing phone call she received from Premier Ewart Brown was enough to leave the young politician speechless ? if only for a few seconds.

Today Miss Morris, who admits she is one of the most opinionated young people you're ever likely to meet, is bursting with pride at her recent appointment as a Senator.

But when the 26-year-old thinks back to the day Dr. Brown offered to make her one of the youngest ever people on the Island's Senate, she laughs and recalls how her tongue was uncharacteristically tied.

"Dr. Brown rang me and just came out and asked if I would consider being a Senator," she says. "I was taken so much by surprise. Those who know me will tell you I'm very opinionated and always have a lot to say. But all of a sudden I had absolutely nothing to say. There was an extended time of complete silence.

"In my mind, I was thinking 'he didn't just say what I think he did ? no, he couldn't have'.

n the end, I finally broke the silence and said 'yes, definitely!'" Miss Morris's appointment comes as a breath of fresh air to a Senate traditionally made up of the older, mainly male, generation.

She was ushered in last month alongside 35-year-old Wayne Caines and 43-year-old Kim Wilson as part of a shake-up instigated by Dr. Brown in the wake of his own appointment in place of Alex Scott.

Her role will include being Junior Minister for health and social rehabilitation, standing in at key Government functions, and debating passing bills in the Senate.

Miss Morris is embracing the challenge with her arms wide open.

"It's pretty awesome," she says confidently. "It's very exciting, not only for myself, but it's for what it represents. Young people are being made the focus.

"We are being considered as important and a necessary part of the policy-making process."

Miss Morris says she is determined to be a spokesperson for Bermudians under 30.

She recognises a host of issues affecting young people, including frustrations at being unable to buy a house or car, the drugs lifestyle and finding the jobs they want on the Island.

She says: "Part of the problem is the social situation in Bermuda. Older people can feel disenfranchised, and younger people can feel like that even more so.

"They wonder how they can attain a house and a car, when the average house costs $1.2 million. So many turn to the drugs lifestyle.

"It's very frustrating that they feel there's nothing out there for them and that society is working against them.

"The young people are definitely not the easiest demographic to get a hold of, but it's not impossible.

"I think it's harder for the older generation to know how to address them in a manner which will capture their attention and get them to sit and listen. That's where the challenge is. I would like to think someone young like myself on board could make a difference.

"I want to address young people's concerns. A lot of young people feel there's a disconnection. It's a matter of bringing the two supposedly separate world's together."

On accepting the Senate post, Miss Morris was forced to step down from her job working for the Government as an addictions counsellor and is currently looking for work.

She hopes some skills picked up in her previous job will stand her in good stead.

Her role involved counselling, often taking group sessions, to improve women's self esteem and anger management.

She explains: "That job helped teach me how to choose my words carefully. You can tell someone to do something, but if you word it incorrectly you meet with resistance. I have listened to debates in the house. They can get very emotional, very passionate. Sometimes, if you are overly passionate, your message can get lost. It's important to be able to temperate yourself."

Miss Morris made her debut speech in the Senate last week. A daunting moment, you would think, but she says she overcame a few nerves and her brief comments were "very well received".

She says "There was a little bit of applause, which I don't think is common in the Senate."

Modestly, she added: "It was probably because I'm a young person."

She is now calling for young people across the country to follow her lead and make their voices heard.

"Be empowered," she says. "Take an interest in your country. Get involved. Come out strong and be knowledgeable about what's going on around you.

"As the inheritors of this country, we should have a say in how we want to receive our inheritance. It's our right.

"I don't want anyone to think they are not appropriate, or not important to this process ? because they are. When I speak in the Senate, I will be representing my peers. I need my peers to come forward and speak to me so that I know what's going on and I can know their issues and frustrations. I would like to make some kind of difference. That's the plan. I take this position very seriously and I definitely want to make the most of it."