"I think the decorative business in Bermuda needs some new exciting ideas,'' Krystal told The Royal Gazette . "I hope to come back here and open up my own business after I finish school.'' Krystal added that she loves art and likes to draw and paint in her free time.

The 17-year-old, who has decorated for weddings, baby showers, and parties, recently graduated from Bermuda Institute where she was class president, a prefect, and a student association advertising coordinator.

She received scholarships to Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama for having the highest SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores in her class and for being class president. Krystal plans to pursue a degree in commercial art.

Along with her love for art and decorating, the talented teen also enjoys poetry.

Krystal said she admired the work of American poet and author Maya Angelou and would like to meet her someday and find out Ms Angelou's source of inspiration.

She said she found inspiration from the following poem whose author is unknown: "If I knew you and if you knew me -- if both of us could clearly see, with an inner sight divine, the meaning of your heart and mine - I'm sure that we would differ less, and clasp our hand in friendliness -our thoughts would pleasantly agree - If I knew you and you knew me.'' "This poem reminds me that ideas that differ from mine are not always threatening,'' said Krystal, who writes her own poetry and hopes to publish a book one day.

However, she admitted that she was concerned about the Island's young black males and believed that they should try harder to make more of themselves.

Krystal said she also believed that young people generally needed more guidance.

"Many youth who have problems don't have anywhere to go because there aren't many facilities where they can find help,'' she added.

This past April, Krystal had the opportunity to go to Panama on a Seventh Day Adventist missionary trip where she helped to build a church.

She said she was amazed by the people of Panama's level of spirituality.

"They have a very high spiritual level,'' she noted, "and are grateful for everything that is given to them.'' INTERVIEW BY KRISTY WARREN