students at Berkeley Institute.

In separate interviews each said they only wanted to do their best in serving their fellow students.

Latanya, who has been on the honour roll each year at the school, would like to become a child life specialist and care for terminally ill children.

She said: "They work along with the medical team. They make the last months and days of someone's life better.'' Latanya, 16, said that along with Ryan, she administers Berkeley's team of prefects or student leaders by handing out supervisory assignments.

She added: "I would not say we won these positions. The students and teachers just thought we would work well.'' Latanya, who is from Pembroke, said Biology is her favourite subject and she has participated in two school plays "The Wiz'' and "Who dunnit''.

She added: "I sing in my church's gospel choir and in my school's choir.'' A member of Word of Life and the former student council, she participates in sports "when I'm needed''.

After school, Latanya works at Deborah Tuzo's orthodontics office on Reid Street.

"I'm still learning, but I do some trimming of dental models and some office filing,'' she said.

Head boy Ryan said he is enthusiastic about serving his fellow students and added: "It is a challenge, though.'' He added: "Putting me in this position forces me to work very hard to be a leader. I just do my work and try to be the best that I can be.'' Ryan, a flautist and pianist, said he enjoys music class, computers, and "a little bit of English language''.

He intends to join Berkeley's choir and has joined a gospel group "Call to Ministry''.

"I'm from North Shore Gospel Chapel, but most are from New Testament Church of God,'' he said.

Like Latanya, Ryan has been on the honour roll all of his years at Berkeley and was awarded the Dr. Earle Seaton Memorial Award which is given to the one outstanding student who exhibits behaviour like a "scholar and a gentleman''.

He said he would like to get a scholarship and attend university and is considering doing media studies as a career.

A basketball player who hopes to make the school team, he will turn 16 at the end of this month.

Ryan, who is also from Pembroke, added that his most memorable experience while at Berkeley was travelling to France and Spain on a class trip during his third year.

"It was fun. We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower and looked down on Paris at night,'' he said.