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The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

The student voice of Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Leaf

Ria Parikh

Ria Parikh, Deputy Photo Editor & Opinion Chief

Hi everyone! My name is Ria Parikh and I am so excited to start off my junior year as Deputy Photo Editor and Opinion Chief. I joined journalism during my first year of high school and I could not have made a better decision. Room 115 is truly a magical place with amazing people, all putting their creative minds together to put out our best work in The Leaf. I am so incredibly lucky to have a community of writers and artists who inspire me every single day.

Both writing and photography are a key part of who I am, which is why I am absolutely in love with my new roles this year. Getting to capture moments of time with my pen or my camera is what makes me the most fulfilled and, ultimately, is the reason I joined the journalism program. Aside from journalistic work though, I also enjoy creative writing—specifically poetry. I have been published in about ten magazines while also working on the editorial side of the craft as a board member of a literary journal. I am also honored to have received recognition for my work with about 15 keys and mentions from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and the 1st Place Writing Our Roots award. Yet, while I love the thrill of submitting to all the contests and competitions I can get my hands on, the greatest joys of writing for me are personally often found in the little things. Whether that be scribbling down thoughts in my journal at 4 in the morning or ranting to my friends over text, it comforts me to know that not a single day goes by without me writing.

Aside from the journalism program, my after-school life can be quite chaotic and ranges from playing varsity tennis for the SHS team to joining late-night Zoom meetings for clubs, to just getting pizza and hanging out with friends when I have some downtime. My motto for high school is to try to do as many activities and meet as many people as I possibly can while still maintaining somewhat of a sleep schedule.

Any other time I may have is usually spent pursuing one or the other of my too-long list of interests— one is dancing. I have been learning Kathak, an Indian classical dance, ever since I was around five, and am working towards getting my degree in it hopefully this year! Another interest of mine is volunteering and I am humbled to be serving as Vice President of an international non-profit this year. Academic-wise, I really love biology and am looking to pursue a career in medicine in the future. I have gotten experience conducting some research recently and it has made me even more interested in the field.

As I take on my second-to-last year of high school (crazy to even be thinking about it), I am excited about new opportunities and making memories with the people I love. Thank you so much for taking the time to learn a bit about me, and I hope you look forward to reading The Leaf!

All content by Ria Parikh
IT’S ABOUT TIME. On March 15, the U.S. Senate unanimously agreed to make daylight savings time permanent starting in 2023. The act they decided upon is cheerfully dubbed The Sunshine Protection Act and means that the time we operate on during the summer months will be what we use all year long. If the House of Representatives ends up voting in favor of the bill, it is likely that we will soon be past tediously switching our clocks and will not have to give up those random extra hours of sleep.

It’s About Time

The pros of a permanent clock
Ria Parikh, Photography Director
April 2, 2022
A FRESH START. November marks the start of an entirely new quarter—one filled with opportunities, second chances, and fresh beginnings. For some in the building, these past couple of months have been spent just scratching the surface of their high school experiences. For seniors, they are nearing the end.  Regardless of where you are in your four years at SHS, the start of a new quarter is a perfect time to rethink your study habits and learning style. Keep reading for five tips to be as successful as possible for the remainder of 2021 and prepare to ace your midterms when the time comes.

A Fresh Start

Tips for success in second quarter
Ria Parikh, Deputy Photo Editor and Opinion Chief
November 3, 2021
19.56 MILLION. That is the number of COVID-19 cases reported in India during this pandemic. Read that again. 19.56 million lives, 19.56 million beating hearts, 19.56 million people like you and I, all forever changed by a virus they had not even heard about before last year. If that number has not already made you raise a brow, let me tell you that over 300,000 of those cases in India have been reported in the last 24 hours. In a single day. From the time you read this to tomorrow, hundreds of thousands more people will have become part of this statistic. According to CNN, “India is now the epicenter of the worst ongoing coronavirus outbreak, and the situation there could get worse before it begins to get better.” Luckily, even with the 8,000 miles physically separating the US and India, you can make a difference. How? By donating to Breathe India, a fund currently dedicated to sending oxygen concentrators directly to patients in India. Click the link in our bio to read the full story and visit the following link to donate: https://www.breatheindiafund.org/index.php/donate/

Photo Courtesy of Breathe India Fund

Breathe India Fund

An initiative saving lives
Ria Parikh, Deputy Photo Editor
May 3, 2021
PINTEREST. According to Sprout Social, “Pinterest started 2020 with around 320 million monthly active users. And now their user base has increased to 459 million monthly active users. This means Pinterest now has more monthly active users than both Twitter and Snapchat combined.” With its relaxing no-expectations atmosphere, personalized interface, and user-friendly features, Pinterest is a social media platform like no other—and it is on the rise. Click the link in our bio to learn more about what makes the app so appealing.
Photo courtesy of Ria Parikh.

Why I Love Pinterest

The app making moves in the world of social media
Ria Parikh, Opinion Editor and Deputy Photo Chief
April 15, 2021
   TROUBLE IN TEXAS. Mother nature is fierce, unforgiving, and harsh—especially when we least expect it. And, in the past couple of weeks, no state has had to learn that better than Texas. With frigid temperatures, state-wide power outages, and an entire population unfamiliar with aggressive winter weather, the period of February storms was a disaster waiting to happen.

Trouble in Texas

A brief recap of the tragic weather damage from past storms
Ria Parikh, Opinion Editor
March 3, 2021
MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS. Months ago, your entire life had been turned upside down and backward. So much uncertainty had been thrown into your face and you simply went along with it. You took social distancing precautions, you got through what you thought would be a “short two-week break”, you ended up having to become adjusted to an entirely new school life, and you learned to get through lonely times. In short, you survived through a not-so-easy, to put it simply, year. So, it is OKAY to not be okay right now. It is equally important to prioritize your own mental health as it is the health of those around you.

It’s okay not to be okay

Ria Parikh, Opinion Editor
January 19, 2021
BEING LEFT ON HEARD. We have all been there. The awkward silence. The hectic glancing around the room to avoid eye contact. The anxiety to be the first one to unmute rushing into your body. Although we can all agree that remote learning is certainly not the most ideal platform for school, it is important that we do all that we can to get the most out of it.

Getting Left on Heard

The huge role that participation plays in remote learning
Ria Parikh, Opinion Editor
December 4, 2020
FINDING YOUR CUP OF TEA. As busy students with a million other activities, caffeine is something a lot of us often rely on to make up for lost sleep or to make it through yet another Zoom call at seven in the morning. And as a top coffee chain, Starbucks is a go-to place for all our caffeine needs. A common issue though, is that many people never know what to order once they get in line. With so many options and new drinks coming out each season, the menu can easily look overwhelming. But don’t worry! This easy to read info graphic gives you some ideas for what to order next time you are in line at Starbucks. Whether you prefer light and fruity drinks or more creamy and flavorful ones, there will be something for you!

Finding Your Cup of Tea

Top five drinks to enjoy on your next trip to Starbucks
Ria Parikh, Opinion Editor
October 6, 2020
RECENTLY,  I WATCHED the ever more popular movie “Contagion” directed by Steven Soderbergh and released in 2011. The intense and terrifying story line uncovers how a virus, similar to Coronavirus, is released into the population and what the effects of it are. It is honestly really scary to see how similar the plot of this fiction movie is to what is happening in the real world right now.  If you are bored while sitting around your home, I would definitely recommend watching this movie to see the similarities to Coronavirus, but do not get too paranoid as the movie is merely fiction.

Contagion Movie Review

Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
April 20, 2020
CLEAR CANALS. Beautiful gondolas like these have cut nearly all travel through the canals of Venice. As a result, water has become still and all dust has been able to settle, leaving see-through water. Hopefully, this is not just a temporary pause at pollution, but a time of reflection to better Venice’s air and water control after Coronavirus concludes and well into the future.

Positives of the pandemic

Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
March 27, 2020
WEARING A MASK. This new emoji relates to quite a few people. It depicts how while many people appear to be smiling, but inside, they are really hurting. While it may be used as more a joke, the deeper meaning of this emoji makes it a nice addition to Apple products.

Expansion of emojis

exploring a new array of emotions
Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
March 9, 2020
3d human with a red question mark

Are we questioning everything?

Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
March 9, 2020
 WORLD WAR 3. While there have been many rumors about possible chaos and drafting taking place, we don’t have to worry just yet. In order to begin drafting citizens, Congress would need to pass a law and get the president’s signature. And to be considered a world war, there would have to be more involved countries than just Iran and the US. Freshman Josie Zink said, “I don’t think it’s going to happen because so many countries have said they are not taking sides.”

You are not getting drafted

Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
February 4, 2020
CRAFTY. These were the go-to craft! Perler beads are small, plastic beads that can be arranged on a small peg board to make designs, ranging from simple to extremely detailed. Afterwards, you would get your design ironed and see how the plastic melts, your beads stick together, and your design is permanent. The focus and determination it took to place these small beads one by one on the board really enticed us as children!

Blast to the Past

Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
December 3, 2019
Downtown Cincy is filled with fun. The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is perfect for a relaxing walk and a great opportunity for some amazing shots of Cincinnati’s skyline. Along with the attractions, there are also many restaurants, ranging from inexpensive to very fancy dining. Additionally, the historical vibe of the area is very unique and special. Your relatives will really enjoy all that downtown has to offer.

Tourist’s Guide to Cincinnati

Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
November 11, 2019
HALLOWEEN HAUNT. From left to right, Catherine Miller, 9, Noam Rochman, 10, Leslie Nordman, 9, and Corwin McAvoy, 9, are pictured with some spooky monsters at Kings Island for Haunt. They are avid-haunted house lovers and all hang out together to enjoy the Halloween season. She loves the “rush of excitement” said Nordman.

Trick or Treat?

Ria Parikh, Staff Writer
October 18, 2019
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Ria Parikh