Anique Swanston is this year's top student from the Whitney Middle School.

Thirteen-year-old Anique moved to Bermuda from the island of Montserrat two yeas ago with her family.

She arrived at the time when the traditional school system was beginning its transition into the new comprehensive system.

While the school system was new, there were some changes from the way she was taught back home in Montserrat. Anique said the most prominent was the "different ways of teaching''.

"One class knows each other,'' she said referring to schools in Montserrat.

She added that here the transition for herself was hard because she did not know the students personally.

As for the level of schooling Anique acknowledged: "Students are up to my standards. There are more people competing, getting higher grades.'' Although she is not sure about what she plans to do later in life, she is toying with the idea of working in the field of dermatology.

She did admit that at times she has to "remember to study''.

"If you don't study grades will suffer,'' she said.

Basing her routine on the method of studying one subject then focusing on the more difficult subject has led to a sound plan.

Anique added: "You won't get anywhere without study.'' In addition to academics, she said she enjoys playing sports, particularly softball and netball.

However, she admitted she preferred to do a "different variety of activities''.

One of her role models was her second grade teacher Mrs. Patsy Ryan who she credits as being "a great teacher''.

"And of course my mother,'' Anique quickly added.

She is planning to attend either The Berkeley Institute or Mount Saint Agnes Academy this coming September.

And with a bright future ahead she pointed to the poem by Government Sen.

Patrice Parris as a source of inspiration. It is entitled "The me I am aiming to be''.