"Don't put limitations on yourself. Don't think you can't do this or can't achieve that -- because you'll never know until you try.'' Seventeen-year-old Merate-Kristos Place offered these words of advice to young people this week.

The Berkeley honours graduate knows what she is talking about.

Merate-Kristos just left the Island to attend the Armand Hammer College United World College in New Mexico after winning a two-year scholarship from United World Colleges.

At the end of the programme she will receive a liberal arts baccalaureate that is internationally recognised.

"I'm really happy to be going to this college and I can't wait for the exposure that I will definitely gain, '' she said. "I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me in my life.'' Merate-Kristos turned down a chance to go on a Rotary exchange in favour of going to college.

She explained that although "both were wonderful opportunities'', she chose to go to college for academic reasons.

"The Rotary exchange would have been more social and cultural,'' she said.

"And I feel I will still get cultural exposure as the college is an international school.'' Merate-Kristos said she hopes to go on to medical school and eventually become an anaesthesiologist.

"I think that the process that occurs when anaesthesia is administered is wonderful,'' she added. "It takes a person so close to death and then brings them back. I'm fascinated by the way it works.'' This summer Merate-Kristos received a taste of the world of medicine when she worked with Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Wendy Woods.

"I met Dr. Woods while I was at Berkeley and I told her I was interested in medicine,'' Merate-Kristos recalled. "She thought it would be good for me to get some experience to see what it's like.'' Merate-Kristos added that she enjoyed the exposure the summer job gave her.

"I loved working with Dr. Woods, it was great,'' she exclaimed. "It let me see how as a doctor she has to interact with the patients and how much time she has to dedicate to her profession.'' In addition to being an honour student at Berkeley Institute, Merate-Kristos was also a student leader -- a position created after the prefect system was rearranged.

"There are now three girl and three boy heads instead of just one of each and under the heads are the students leaders,'' she explained.

When asked about her experience at Berkeley, Merate-Kristos had only praise for the senior school.

"I found Berkeley to be an excellent high school experience and I don't think I would have wanted to be anywhere else,'' she said. "I had great teachers and good friends.'' Merate-Kristos' aim for excellence is not limited to academics, she has been involved with Outward Bound, enjoys dancing, and was a Candy Striper for two years.

Last summer she spent three weeks in Wales with Outward Bound.

"We did different activities to build cooperation skills and were taught to depend on one another to get through the course,'' she said. "It was designed to show how much you could achieve.

"Activities included abseiling, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, orienteering, and map reading. I saw what I was capable of doing. I could do much more than I expected.'' In 1995 she was awarded the George Garrod Shield for being the most outstanding student in the Bermuda Outward Bound programme.

Merate-Kristos has been dancing since the age of four, but stopped recently to concentrate on her fifth-year exams.

She danced with the Russian School of Ballet and was a member of the Junior Company at United Productions.

"I find that ballet has taught me discipline I can apply to everyday life,'' she said. "The self-control comes out in the other things you have to do.'' Merate-Kristos has one brother, Wolde-Maryam, who is 19.

She said she was really proud of him as he has just graduated with an associate degree in computer programming and information systems.

When asked about her parents influence Merate-Kristos said: "I love my parents. They're always positive role models and always guiding me toward excellence and to better myself in any way that I can. We are God-fearing people and my parents always keep me aware of the spiritual aspect of life''.