For my Bearfacts senior interview, I decided to sit down with our technology coordinator, Sriram Chakravadhanula, and ask him a few questions. In case you’re not familiar with Sriram, he’s an accomplished senior who has held leadership positions in everything from Mock Trial to tennis, and of course, Bearfacts. In addition, he also plays the violin and piano, sings, and is a genuinely kind and likable guy.
How long have you been in Bearfacts?
I’ve been in Bearfacts for four years, as a History Columnist for three years and an Editor/Technology Coordinator for the fourth.
What would you say is one valuable lesson you’ve learned during your time in Bearfacts?
One very important lesson I learned the hard way was copyright laws. Since the newspaper acts outside the ‘educational purposes’ domain, almost every picture that seems good and you would think to be okay is actually illegal to use in the newspaper. After paying hefty fines because of some of the articles that I wrote, I realized the gravity of the copyright laws.
What are you looking forward to the most after high school?
I’m really looking forward to college, especially all the opportunities and freedoms that come along with it. I’m attending Cornell University in the College of Arts and Sciences this fall, and not only does it have gorgeous natural hikes and activities, but also has a lot of really cool clubs (such as a very successful mock trial team that I am interested in), and apparently is the nation’s #2 in college food.
What part of Bearfacts did you enjoy the most?
I enjoyed working with the website software. It’s come a long way from last year, and I think that the time Margaret, Rowan, Mrs. Benjamin, and I spent on tutorials and the Word Press software really helped make it the newspaper it is today.
What’s one thing you wish you’d known back in freshman year that underclassmen might find useful?
I would definitely tell freshmen to try not to cram a million AP/IB exams. I wish I’d known how little colleges actually cared if you took 15 AP Exams or nine. Your extracurriculars and how you challenged yourself in your school curriculum are more important.
What’s your biggest regret from high school?
I always wanted to try to be in a high school musical. I played piano in the pit orchestra in my junior year, and it was a fun experience. Unfortunately, I never had enough time to dedicate to the musical, as it is a pretty big commitment and eats up a lot of time.
