Today Young Observer begins the first in a series of profiles on the Island's top students. To start the series off we have picked 19-year-old Jenson Bascome BERMUDA College Valedictorian Jenson Bascome is preparing for a career in physiotherapy -- a career which will build on his love of sports and medicine.

Bascome, 19, has a long history of achievements being both headboy of the West End Primary School and then later the Berkeley Institute.

Bascome, who will be receiving his Associate in Science Degree, told The Royal Gazette : "Bermuda College provides foundation. It gives a good sense of college life and what to expect.'' And while the transition from high school to college was a big adjustment for Bascome, he attributes much of his success to discipline.

"Adjusting from high school life to college life is pressure,'' he admits.

"At college you have to be more disciplined than you are in high school.'' Bascome is an avid player of sports, naming tennis, soccer and basketball amongst his favourites.

He holds memberships with the Port Royal Tennis Club, The Somerset Cricket Club, The Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association. He was also a member of the Davis Cup team which recently returned from Trinidad.

But when it comes to school work and sports Bascome feels that "it works both ways''.

"You have to have a balance, an escape.'' he says. "You have to have the ability to work as an individual and with others.'' "Playing sports helps with school in that you don't have as much free time.

You have to get your school work done,'' Bascome adds. "So you are left with that balance which you have to maintain.'' For his success Bascome also credits his parents, Glenn and Jennifer Bascome.

He explains that both are school teachers.

"They taught me how to manage time and they also made it clear that school work had to be done,'' Bascome recalls.

"They provided good moral values. They'll be hard acts to follow.'' As a member of the Allen Temple Church in Sandys Parish and also the Young People of Allen Temple, Bascome says: "My spiritual life has helped me stay away from a lot of negative things. It has helped me focus on my goals.'' In the autumn Jenson is hoping to attend Temple University in Philadelphia.

For all that he as accomplished, Jenson believes that it is his relationship with God, the relationship with his parents, and that balance between sports and school that has guaranteed his success. He also has two quotes which he believes sum up his accomplishments.

They are: "The choices we make in life dictate the lifestyles which we will lead''; "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams''.

Bright future: Bermuda College valedictorian Jenson Bascome has plenty to smile about as he looks forward to a career in physiotherapy.