Hello! My name is Maanasa Yarlagadda, and I am a freshman at Sycamore High school. This is my first year in Journalism, and I hope to explore different styles of writing and designing. Apart from Journalism, I am part of a swim team, Latin Club, and frequently go to Matthew 25 Ministries to volunteer.

I enjoy reading in my free time. I love to explore new writers and genres, and some of my favorite books are Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver and They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. Reading is a powerful tool, as is being able to write. By writing in The Leaf, I hope to spread accurate information and ideas about various topics during my time as a staff writer. 

Lauren Oliver wrote, “That is the strangest thing about the world: how it looks so different from every point of view.” I stand by this during my first year of Journalism.