"I wanted to just try it out and see what happens more than anything," said the Park View Education Centre student.

 "It was sort of a split-second decision to apply. It wasn't very well thought out at all."

 He had pretty much decided after the interview process that he'd only accept a scholarship to attend the Victoria, British Columbia campus, but not one of the other 11 sites around the world offering pre-university International Baccalaureate diplomas.

 "And then they told me I got Singapore, and I said, 'Okay, I'll go to Singapore,'" laughed the Pinehurst resident, who expects to spend the next two years studying at the United World College of South East Asia thanks to a $75,000 scholarship.

 "It's almost like an ant farm in the way that there are students from about 70 different nations going to this college, which is something you can't get here in Bridgewater. ... I'm really looking forward to meeting people from different cultures and different parts of the world."

 Mr. Mertens maintains a mid-90s average in his IB courses while being active in various school and community activities, including Relay for Life, the United Way, the provincial student association, sports teams and as vice-president of his student council.

 "He approaches all tasks with the same energy and enthusiasm," said Park View teacher Errin Monahan.

 "In his role as VP liaison, it is Adam's job to work with members of the administrative team to ensure students have a voice, a role he takes very seriously."

 She said as an English student, he demonstrated a sincereness towards understanding the world through a different lens.

 "His experiences gave him insight, understanding and his writing was outstanding."

 Another Park View teacher has had two of his own children attend a United World College and helped guide Mr. Mertens through the application process.

 "I didn't really contribute much to his achievement," said Ron Leitold.

 "He's a bright and curious person who has a keen sense of wider horizons, realized that this was an opportunity to help him grow as a world citizen and grasped it."

 The Southeast Asia campus has over 3,400 students aged four to 19 and provides a challenging, holistic education with an emphasis on academic achievement, service to others, teamwork and leadership, according to its website.

 "Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities which include sports, music, drama and social service options. All IB students join one of more than 30 Singapore-based social service projects, visiting every week for at least one academic year. Students visit residential homes and day-care centres for the elderly or physically and intellectually disabled."

 There is also a program which educates students about global issues which introduces concepts of leadership and organization, through which students are encouraged to establish their own initiatives, and those efforts have resulted in the building of schools in Swaziland, Nepal and Indonesia.

 "Students develop character and learning through challenges, both in and outside of the classroom. From Grade 3 on, all students participate in class expeditions outside Singapore."

 For more information, check on-line at http://www.uwc.org.