Excelling at academic studies and sports has given Jasmin Johansen a strong platform to begin her adult life after graduating with honours at a college ceremony attended by Michelle Obama.And the 21-year-old says the opportunity to play for the Bermuda national women’s football team five years ago, helping the team win a bronze medal at the 2007 Island Games in Greece, gave her a confidence boost before she embarked on her degree course at Atlanta’s Spelman College.That same year she had the honour of seeing her soccer jersey number ‘retired’ after scoring a record-breaking 104 goals during a four-year spell at Woodward School for Girls in Quincy, Massachusetts, near Boston.In the years in between she continued to shine as a soccer player in the US collegiate scene, while also applying herself to her studies at Spelman College.The hard work paid off. She has just graduated with a degree in economics, cum laude, and is now beginning her working life as part of a leadership development programme with leading US telecoms company AT&T.Reflecting on her achievements, and the future, she said: “I had a totally amazing experience at Spelman. I continued playing soccer at collegiate level and I was being challenged at sport and in the classroom. It developed me more than I thought.”During her Spelman years she was fortunate enough to spent six months studying in Sao Paulo, Brazil.“I was there mainly to study although I did play soccer in some recreational leagues. I fell in love with Brazil. I loved everything about it.“I was there when the World Cup was on. It was amazing to see how places of work closed down so people could watch the games. They were so passionate about the sport,” she said.Born in the US, Ms Johansen has Bermudian parents. Her father William is a former North Village football team player and he helped coach her through much of her school years.The dedication and goalscoring prowess she showed not only led to her remarkable record-breaking at Woodward School, but also to picking up the Most Improved Player Award for two years at Spelman and also selection for three consecutive years to the All Academic Conference All Star Team.She picked up a sportsmanship award and demonstrated her ability to stay focused on her academic studies as well reflected in her nomination for the Arthur Ashe National Award for grades and success among All Conference team players.Her Spelman soccer coach Philmore George said: “Jasmin played an integral part in our team’s success, for her talent and her work ethics. She believed in herself and her teammates.”While her father William encouraged her to pursue her sporting ambitions and would turn up at her school games wherever they were held.Mr Johansen said: “I did not really need to teach her that much. She had a passion for the sport.“She broke all these school records, but while everyone else was jumping up and down she stayed so humble. She always put education first. She knows sport is not going to last so education comes first.”He believes his daughter’s ability to identify, empathise with and support her teammates has been a major contributing factor in her success.He added: “I’m very proud of her, and my son. She went out there and achieved. And I also thank North Village and BFA (Bermuda Football Association), particularly Vance Brown and Jeremy Sallam, who gave her the opportunity to play and to represent Bermuda.”Michelle Obama, wife of President Barack Obama, was the commencement speaker at Ms Johansen’s graduation at the Atlanta Convention Centre.The ceremony also saw honorary degrees awarded to TV stars Debbie Allen, from ‘Fame’, and Phylicia Rashad, from ‘The Cosby Show’ who are sisters.Ms Johansen, who achieved a highly commendable GPA of 3.44 in her studies, hopes that one day in the future she might again play soccer for Bermuda.Of her 2007 Island Games experience, she said: “I still remember it as if it was yesterday, playing with people from different countries. I feel it made me more experienced as a player and more confident.”She enjoys making occasional return trips to the Island and added: “I will keep training in case there is a girls’ team for the Island Games.”