Matthew Wedlich, 16, is the kind of young person that’s always on the go.When he’s not starring in the latest theatre production of ‘The Crucible’ at Warwick Academy or Prince Charming in the upcoming Christmas pantomime, he is studying to ace his GCSEs and preparing to stomp the competition with his debate team.He recently took his GCSE exams and finished second in his class at Warwick Academy, scoring six A*s and three As.On top of that, his school’s debate team recently beat out the Island’s senior schools, including established debators CedarBridge Academy, to take home first prize in the National Debate Competition.Matthew, who is currently in his first year of the International Baccalaureate programme, said he sometimes gets home at 10pm or 11pm after completing all his extra-curricular activities for the day.He has to then spend time finishing his homework before finally getting to bed.“I don’t really plan to take on so much but this year I have been telling myself I am going to get involved with everything because I just feel like it’s now or never. I am not getting any younger and next year in IB2 will probably be a lot more hectic than IB1,” he said.Matthew also took part in BF&M’s National High School Challenge for five weeks. He would wake up at 5am throughout the week to take part in fitness exercises at the National Stadium in Devonshire. Such activities count towards points needed for graduation, he said.In the Warwick Academy IB programme, students need to complete 50 hours in areas such as creativity, action and service.“If I was to put together all my hours in just the creativity portion it’s probably about 300, which is double what I need for the entire diploma programme,” Matthew said.On top of his other commitments he is also passionate about taking part in theatre productions.Last month he took part in Gilbert and Sullivan’s rendition of Jesus Christ Superstar; tonight he will act in the final performance of ‘The Crucible’, a traditionally dark tale about the Salem witch trials taking place at Warwick Academy at 7.30pm.He is also set to tackle the lead male role in Bermuda Musical Dramatical Society’s ‘Cinderella’, opening on December 8.He admitted his free time was “sparing” and he had little chance to just hang out with friends.“I feel as if I’m not on the go I am not at my best. If I am just sitting around I just kind of turn into mush,” he told The Royal Gazette. “Sometimes there are little down times, especially during the school breaks, that I can take a step back and catch my breath, but it’s really difficult once I have been on stage or in a debate to sit still afterwards.“I am all hyped up because I try to put everything I have into it.”He hopes to eventually get a career in “something to do with science”, perhaps in the medical profession. The teenager said he owes part of his success to teachers “who have been able to push me”. He also is self-motivated to be the best he can be.“I try to work hard and that is about it. I have always pretty much not known where I am going to go, but I always set a goal.“One month it will be I am going to get through ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and do the best I can, another month it will be High School Challenge and the debate. It just comes out that way I always have something to do.”Matthew said at one point in his life he struggled to encourage and motivate himself, but urges other young people to take things one step at a time.“I never aimed for these types of things it just fell into place and I feel like I need to be better. But I think it’s best to put one foot forward. You never know how it will turn out.”