Sixteen-year-old Mark France who hails from a riverain community along the Berbice River is a student of President's College, East Coast Demerara.

At the recent Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations he excelled, placing second at his school.

"There are many reasons out there why you may not want to take your education seriously, but if you are dedicated and work hard towards achieving your goals, you would succeed.

"That is what I did," he told the Government Information Agency in an interview.

He attained 11 subjects - seven Grade Ones, including six Distinctions, three Grade Twos and a Grade Three.

Mark was awarded Distinctions in Mathematics, Agriculture, English, Biology and Social Studies, Grade One in Information Technology, Grade Two in Chemistry and Physics and Grade Three in Spanish.

Commenting on his future endeavours, the youth is unsure what career path he will choose, but for now, he will be continuing his education at President's College where he will pursue Chemistry, Biology and Pure Mathematics at A levels and Information Technology at the Certificate Advance Proficiency Examination.

"I am still undecided about what I want to be, but it is either a microbiologist or a bio-chemist," he said.

According to the teenager, he did not find life at school very difficult, as he lived in at President's College.

This, he said, helped him to focus on his studies.

A member of the President's College cricket team, Mark's hobbies include cricket lawn tennis and table tennis.

He is the third of six children.

His father is the Headmaster of New Amsterdam Primary School and his mother is a housewife. His elder sister attended President's College and younger brother is also there.