At 17 years old, Jay Butler is leaving the warm confines of home for a change of pace in Wales where he will be enrolling at the Atlantic College.

This Week Young Observer takes a look at Jay who is one of four recipients of the WT Wilson Bermuda Scholarship to the United World Colleges for 2000-2002.

The Warwick Academy graduate smiles and in some ways seems awe-struck as he sits back realising that he graduated less then a month ago.

With that behind him, he was happy expressing the virtues that the school had instilled in his life and in his future.

"I left with a strong sense of discipline and a firm academic base to pursue areas of study,'' he said. "Warwick Academy has been good preparation for Atlantic College.'' He admitted to being both surprised and excited when he found out he was one of the recipients of the scholarship.

"I'm still alive today,'' he joked. "It was one of the first times that I have been speechless. I'm glad my heart didn't stop beating.'' Based in the UK, Atlantic College was the first of the world colleges established in 1962. The United World Colleges consortium consists of ten colleges which are based around the world.

Jay has a laidback sense of confidence about the challenges which are ahead for him.

There are benefits to attending Atlantic College, said Jay. One of the most prominent is the school's multicultural philosophy, a concept which could be adopted in the quest for world peace.

"I'm looking forward to meeting people from around the world,'' he said.

"It's a place where people from around the world can come and show that they are not that different.'' The two year programme prepares students for the International Baccalaureate.

He explained: "We have six subjects, first language, then a second language, science, math, social science, one of the arts, then one of the other courses from any other area.

"There are higher courses, then there are standard courses. But the courses are a lot more rigorous.'' Jay, the son of former principal and Progressive Labour Party MP Dale Butler and Dr. June Hill is leaving the Bermudian school system having accomplished a great deal in his relatively short life.

His accomplishments include being Head Boy at Warwick Academy, President of the school's Leo Club and president of the Warwick Academy Student Council for two years.

He was also a member of the National Youth Council, a former member of the Bermuda Youth Parliament, and has been on his school's debate team as well as being a former member of the Philharmonic orchestra and the Daylesford Symphony.

And he has also received awards from Teen Services and Charted Accountants.

Last summer, he attended a programme at Oxford University where he received the top awards for participation in the programme.

He is looking forward to the IB programme to help him get a grasp on what he really intends to do, but he feels he is leaning toward the legal profession.

"I hope to do international relations and international human rights law.'' "I found it a fascinating area which helps a lot of people,'' he said.

Earlier this summer he worked with the Supreme Court and said that it was something which he would consider doing again.

He noted about the experience: "It was good learning the inner workings of the court system.'' Jay is an accomplished musician. Something which he hopes to continue while he is at Atlantic College.

Recently he returned from a summer programme at the Romaine Forget Music and Dance Academy in Quebec, which hosts a prestigious summer programme.

A violinist, he had the opportunity to study with Prof. David Zafer of the University of Toronto, Catherine Dallaire, mistress of the Montreal Symphonic orchestra, and Regis Pasquier from the Paris Conservatory of Music.

With September approaching fast, he said: "I'm excited about going to college although there are things I will miss.'' "My parents have definitely been supportive,'' he said with a smile appearing. "My brother is happy because he finally gets his own room.'' The Real World: Former head boy of Warwick Academy Jay Butler will leave the comforting confines of high school for the rigorous life of an international baccalaureate student when he goes to Atlantic College in Wales this September.