Rasaan Louden may appear shy and soft spoken, but he is a bold and ambitious young man who is working assiduously towards achieving his goal of becoming an aviation mechanic.

Louden, the drum major at Prospect College in St Mary, is a fifth form student and will be this year’s valedictorian.

As drum major, Rasaan leads and instructs his school band.

His musical talent is but one aspect of his hard work and dedication.

The 19-year-old from Ocho Rios has already passed seven subjects in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and will be sitting several others this year.

Louden started Prospect College at age 16 at the grade nine or the third form level. In grade 10, he sat seven subjects, gaining four distinctions, two credits and a pass.

He gained distinctions in mathematics, information technology, accounts and principles of business and received credits in anglish A and integrated science while receiving a pass in history.

The drum major also sat the Royal School of Music exam at levels one and two and received a distinction and a credit respectively and is now preparing to sit level three. He is currently doing english literature, social studies and human and social biology in CSEC.

Rasaan’s success in music has not only seen him becoming drum major, a very important position on the school’s band, but has allowed him to earn a salary. Louden is employed teaching a music class on Saturdays to at-risk youth. Interestingly, while he is now an excellent musician, Louden said prior to attending Prospect College he was not interested in music.

“I wasn’t even interested in music, but Prospect has transformed me to actually love music,” he said.

Louden said apart from his love for music, Prospect College has contributed significantly to his development over the last three years.

“It has made me self-sufficient, independent, self-reliant,” he said. He explained that he has already establish some form of independence by acquiring a job teaching on Saturdays.

Louden said being a student at Prospect College has allowed him to realise his academic potential.

“I never thought I was pushing enough. Being here is like you block out society, so I can focus more. Prospect has helped me,” he said, while indicating that attending the school was a personal decision.

“I thought I needed a fresh start and I have received it here.

“My family is now very proud of what I have already achieved and I feel accomplished, but that is just a start. There is much more to be accomplished,” the drum major, who has already sat and passed the entrance test to become a soldier in the Jamaica Defence Force, said.

Commenting on life at the semi-military institution, Louden told it all.

“Once you come here, you have to learn to obey rules. You have to learn to listen to those in authority and those in authority are not only the teachers, but also student leaders.

“Once you come here you have to learn to cook. I was able to improve my cooking as well as, learning to account for stock and, of course, there is always regular canteen duties.

“Prospect College has helped to shape me into a well-mannered young man with a character that is quite outstanding,” he said.

Although he excels academically and carries out a number of roles at Prospect College, Louden still finds time to ride his BMX bicycle at bicycle shows with Team Extreme. He said riding is one of the things he does for fun. He also enjoys playing football and looking at nature.