Emily Ross has accomplished more in her 16 years than many adults manage in a lifetime.

An award-winning ‘A Star’ student, talented musician, poet, singer and thespian, she is also passionate about the environment, ecology and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

As if that were not enough, the outstanding Bermuda High School student also manages to enjoy an active social life, fulfil gigs with her own musical trio and spend quality family time with her equally talented brother and parents.

The question arises: how does she manage her time and accomplish so much?

Like all busy people, this bright and personable young woman has learned that balancing her responsibilities and interests, and being organised, are essential, for she strives for excellence in whatever she does. In fact, the term “born winner” sums her up perfectly.

Academically, Emily has always shone. A lifelong student of BHS, over the years she has won numerous prizes and awards on an annual basis, including her school’s Jubilee Scholarship. Last year she achieved the best GCSE results in Bermuda: nine ‘A stars’, including one of the top five marks worldwide in Latin.

“I still can’t believe it,” she says of the latter result. “I couldn’t have asked for more as I really like languages. Our school is the only one on the Island offering Latin.”

Other BHS honours include being named ‘Top Student’ in Year 11, plus prizes for English, History and Latin, and the highest academic achievement in the same year, as well as ‘Poet Laureate’ in the 2005 poetry competition.

“That was a bit of a surprise because I wrote an ‘out there’ poem, the theme of which was ‘Courage’,” Emily says.

“They wanted proper poetry, not acrostics, but I had no idea what I was going to write. In the end, my poem seemed to be a pointless rant, but actually with a message about having the courage to do what you want.”

Courage, of course, is part of what makes this teenager so successful at whatever she does.

In terms of sports, if not the ultimate athlete, again hard work and application improved her running skills so much that she made the BHS inter-school cross country team.

“The most important thing is not being the best, but trying to do your best,” Emily says — a philosophy she advises other students to follow — albeit not to the exclusion of all else.

“Set yourself goals and try to do your best because you only have now. There is a lot of pressure on students to be top of the class, and if they cannot get there, or they are a ‘B’ student, they feel there is no point in trying, so they end up not putting their full effort into their work.

“On the other hand, you don’t want to put in so much effort that it controls your life. School is a priority, but you don’t want to make it the priority because the real priority is your own happiness. School should be an enjoyable experience.”

Currently in her first year of the BHS International Baccalaureate programme, Emily is studying Higher level English, biology, history and Standard level Latin, Spanish and Math — and relishing every moment.

“It’s a lot of work, but I really love the programme because you have much more freedom. With GCSEs you have lots of guidelines, but this one allows room for more ideas. We’re looking into lots of new sources — Cicero, Ovid, Horace, Catullus.... It’s great.”

Homework is an age-old cross of all students, of course, particularly those at the more senior levels, but Emily’s advice is to the point: “Don’t procrastinate. Avoid stress and do it when you get home so you can have the whole evening ahead of you. Organisation is really an important key to success.”

Music is also a big part of this gifted teenager’s life, and is again something at which she excels — not least, perhaps, because her mother, Kate, is an accomplished musician who has taught and helped her over the years; her father John sings and acts, and brother Matthew plays several instruments, is a member of the Saltus Jazz Band and orchestra, and also has his own band.

A Grade VII-level cellist, Emily numbers a Menuhin Foundation scholarship, and a singing scholarship from St. John’s Church among her achievements. She is a member of the St. John’s Youth Choir, directed by Marjorie Pettit; the BHS school orchestra, and string groups.

Not unnaturally, she has many friends who are also involved in music, and with two of them — Honor Brady (cello) and Luisa Olander (violin) — she has formed a bookable trio which plays “typical classical music” of the sort heard at weddings.

“It’s different, but we are the only one of our kind,” Emily says proudly.

Theatre is another love, and something she has been familiar with from early childhood. Again, it is something of a family tradition. Her grandfather, Rev. Frank Ross, was a founding member of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society (BMDS), and like her parents, she too is a member.

“I am generally involved in lots of theatre, which helps my memory. Dad is always involved in lots of shows, and when I was little I would go and watch him. I always wanted to be involved. My mother directed the last BMDS panto. In fact, I’ve spent half my life at BMDS. It has a great atmosphere and I love it there, especially now it’s non-smoking. I really like being on stage, and I’m never nervous talking in front of people. I’ve been in panto and also a few Gilbert and Sullivan productions.”

Last year, Emily had a role in Waterspout Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’, and continues to audition for other BMDS productions.

“Living in Bermuda is great for theatre because we get professional directors coming here, so you get to work with people you would not otherwise have an opportunity to experience.”

In terms of our environment, the teenager is concerned that so many people pay scant attention to its wellbeing or the ramifications of abusing it.

“I have always been passionate about the environment because we are ecologically aware at BHS. We recycle, so its importance has always been drilled into me from a young age,” she says.

Attending the 2005 Nonsuch Island natural history camp was another eye-opener, and something Emily describes as “one of the most amazing experiences of my life”.

“You got to see a whole new Bermuda that you didn’t know existed, and you really understood Dr. Wingate’s vision. We had no idea about things like the disappearing mangroves, which are amazingly diverse habitats that we need to preserve.

“Our group was very diverse, and I got to meet wonderful people from all over, some of whom will be friends for life. They said our group was special.”

But Emily was extra-special: true to form, she was awarded the ‘Top Student’ plaque.

Working on her Duke of Edinburgh silver award is another way she is experiencing the environment, and she has also been a counsellor at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo’s summer aqua camp for children.

In terms of the Island’s social fabric, the young Bermudian is concerned about ills, but optimistic about its progress.

“Gangs are really worrying, so I am glad we are starting to see more people starting to work together — at least in my age group I see that,” she says.

“More people are making friends with students in other schools, so we are beginning to move forward.”

Regarding race relations, Emily feels “it is more the older generations who are creating differences”.

“It is still easier in some circles (than others), but it is definitely getting better. You have people of different heritages living as locals on the Island now. You can’t avoid differences, so you shouldn’t let them bother you.

“We have made a lot of progress, but we still have a ways to go. I think growing up in Bermuda was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Emily also sees a Bermuda education as another “positive”, not least because students meet and work with so many different people.

“I don’t think people realise how lucky they are. A lot see boarding school as the way to go, but I think our education is of a very, very high standard. It is really under-rated.”

Certainly, she has no complaints about her alma mater.

“BHS is the best school ever. It is so great. The teachers are really focused, and the one thing I particularly love about BHS is the student-teacher relationship.

“We are like best friends with our teachers, and they work on each individual student because they want to ensure each person does the best she can. Nobody is ever left behind, and you know they are always willing to help.”

When the time comes to attend university, this delightful super-achiever is “pretty sure” she will go to the UK to study English literature and history prior to becoming an English teacher who will work in various countries.

She will, however, continue to maintain her avid interest in and support of research leading to a cure for Parkinson’s disease. To this end, instead of gifts for her last birthday, Emily asked her friends to donate money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and now has a letter and gift from them acknowledging the $1,000 they raised. She is also keen about spreading awareness and educating people about AIDS/HIV.