THE way the student government works at Spice Valley Middle School is unique.

Students give speeches, run campaigns and are elected by the student body. But it is the elected group that decides who will have what position.

Not only that but the Vice President of the student government is automatically the president the following year.

"I decided to do it this way because the President can work with the Vice President to show them everything they need to know,'' said Teacher Advisor Dewana Burrows. "This way I can work more closely with the other students on other projects.'' This year's president Shoa Bean was excited to be a part of student government again.

"It's exciting and a nice experience to get to see how things work,'' she said. "So far I've learned how to go about doing things differently.

"I'm learning a lot, like I never knew how a real Parliament worked before.'' She said that she had a better understanding of what it was like to be a teacher. But it was still a nice experience to learn how to teach other people what you know.

Vice president Raffine Whaley looked at this as a good experience and was enjoying the work she was doing.

"Next year I will be the president and I have to be committed and brave,'' she said. "I have to go ahead and do things I had no idea I would do. I had no idea I would be elected vice president. Sometimes it can be stressful. But I look at it like this, I'm still a person.'' The position of public relations officer is a new addition to the Spice Valley's student government and Stephanie Outerbridge is the first person to have it.

Shoa dances with the Bermuda African Dance troupe and is an active member of PRIDE, a group that promotes drug and alcohol free youth. Raffine takes art lessons after school and spends the rest of her time taking care of her younger brother and sister. Stephanie loves to argue and so became a member of the Bermuda Debate Society and the Youth Government. As far as being role models to the other students, Shoa spoke for everyone when she said: "It's nice to have the other students look up to you. "Some people call us Miss Goody Two Shoes but they still look up to us as role models. They come to us to voice their opinions and we're a good connection with the principal. I think we're positive role models.'' As far as going on to high school next year all three girls are a little apprehensive, but are trying to remain positive about it. "It sometimes worries me that I will be going on to high school,'' Stephanie said. "There are more students there and I may not be with my friends.'' Shoa was all smiles at the thought of being near the end of her time at middle school but was unsure what the future held for her.

"I think of it like I'm almost finished and I can't wait,'' she said. "Also I'm a little scared because I don't know what to expect.'' Raffine on the other hand was completely unsure of what was going to happen after Spice Valley. Her future may be somewhere across the ocean in another country.