• Orange Week is March 20th-24th!!
  • The Wizard of Oz Musical is March 23rd-25th!!
  • Spring Break is March 30th-April 9th!!
The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

The Student Voice of Forest Hills Central

The Central Trend

Arpita Das

Arpita Das, Staff Writer

Arpita is a junior entering her second year as a staff writer on The Central Trend. She has been a part of the Science Olympiad team since her freshman year of high school. When Arpita isn't writing, you will often find her either binge-watching The Flash on Netflix, playing the piano in her sunroom, or doing Chloe Ting workouts. She also loves to play board games with her family and is both excited and nervous about what junior year has to bring.

Favorite book: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Favorite board game: Sequence

Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden

Favorite class: Writing for Publication

 

All content by Arpita Das
A picture of me at the age of one years old.

The coincidences that make up my life

Arpita Das , Staff Writer March 23, 2023

Coincidences intrigue me until they scare me; a ghost from my treacherous past I continue to bury the more I move away from it. It’s interesting how coincidences happen, but the irony that occurs within...

Youtubers, Dhar Mann and Brent Rivera.

Lately, the media has cultivated a cancel culture of its own

Arpita Das , Staff Writer March 15, 2023

Opinions expressed in editorials on The Central Trend are the view of the individual writer and are not the opinion of the entire staff of The Central Trend or the Forest Hills Central staff or administration. A...

A picture of a group of students that attend the ASL field trips.

School trips give students the chance to embark on an adventure with endless opportunities

Arpita Das , Staff Writer March 13, 2023

Field trips in high school can have a plethora of interpretations, but for American Sign Language teacher Kimberly Anderson, they are eye-opening opportunities for students to bond.  “I think it's...

January 30th, 2022, the day after my 2nd Science Olympiad Competition.

My photographs have created a timeline that I’m not even fully aware of

Arpita Das , Staff Writer March 13, 2023

I seem to remember everything nowadays, except for the important stuff. For example, when to wake up or when certain assignments or assessments need to be completed. Regardless of what I can keep track...

One of many shows Ive watched within my life to sit back and relax.

TV shows have continually become a source of contentment for me

Arpita Das , Staff Writer March 1, 2023

I know that I’m not a robot, but sometimes I feel like one because of the facial expressions that I make. Usually, when I’m upset, the first feature to convey that to you is my face, and I can’t...

A picture of current AP seminar students that are presenting.

The second semester AP Seminar exam presents students with the ability to improve vital skills

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 28, 2023

For any college-level course, it’s expected that there’s an exam to follow, but the elements of each exam can vary from class to class. For AP Seminar teacher Morgan Beckett, the fundamentals are what's...

Me second semester of 10th grade attending brunch with a friend when I should have been doing homework.

Asking others “How are you?” can have more of an impact than you think

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 22, 2023

These months of the year can either go one of two ways for me: stressful or joyful. It’s the start of a new year, and that’s exciting for me, but it either goes down one path or another. This time...

The center of the sweater that I wore on valentines day.

The fourteen special valentines in my life

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 20, 2023

I dislike Valentine's Day, but that could just be because I spend it alone every year. I like the concept behind it, but It starts to get old the more I see the infinite string of stories of couples posting...

I always find myself taking the form of a baby when I go to bed.

What your sleeping position says about your persona

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 8, 2023

Earth is a miraculous planet, but it’s hard to find appreciation in things when you don’t stop to pause and take in everything around you. This is something I have been trying to do more lately.  Being...

Senior exemption gives students a chance to be excused from their final high school exams.

Senior Exemption presents students with the oppurtunity to be excused from their final exams

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 7, 2023

When history teacher Kyle Carhart first heard about senior exemption, he was unsure as to what it entailed for students, simply because it was never a policy that was enacted when he was a high school...

A picture of one of many press on nails that Ive applied on my hands.

Here are my personal favorite purchases from Amazon

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 2, 2023

I loathe shopping. Just kidding, I adore it, but only if it’s online. For some reason, going inside stores has never really been my forte. I’ve always been someone who loves to purchase items from...

A picture I took during the awards ceremony.

My first Model UN Conference was better than I expected

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 24, 2023

If I had to describe myself in one word from the perspective of someone who just met me, it would be "shy." I am a very shy person. In fact, I’m shy to the point that when you talk to me, we won’t...

A picture of some of the former smile squad members, from left to right (Afomia, Markian).

Smile Squad brings the universe together one chuckle at a time

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 18, 2023

Entertainment; that’s the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the word "break." Whether that be watching shows on Netflix, short videos on TikTok, or even people’s lives on YouTube, this...

A picture of the symbol that represents the icon for our AP World History class.

Why we should stay up-to-date on the world around us

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 11, 2023

Before I started high school, I never really considered myself someone who liked to be affiliated with history. It was always a monotonous subject for me. I always thought that you had to be constantly...

A picture of me my first semester of junior year before attending homecoming.

If my junior year were a person

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 8, 2023

Dear junior year, I’m going to be completely honest, I am not loving junior year, and it’s weird for me to even say those words that are coming out of my mouth right now. It’s nothing like I thought...

A combination of some of the many social media platforms that we use today.

Social media can be used as more than just a way to connect with friends

Arpita Das , Staff Writer December 12, 2022

Tiktok, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, and so on. I’m sure we’ve all heard of these words before, right? But what’s the one thing that comes to mind when you think about these platforms?...

Senior Sammy Deridder with one of her many pets.

Sammy DeRidder finds her passion for veterinary school that is animals.

Arpita Das, Staff Writer December 12, 2022

For many people, owning pets can mean as little as one or two animals, but for senior Sammy Deridder, this means 35. Since she lives on a farm, she is constantly surrounded by animals; these creatures...

Me on my birthday, the same day as black friday and when our school went to state championships.

And so begins chapter 17

Arpita Das , Staff Writer November 28, 2022

A couple of days ago, I turned 17, and although it’s never really been a special number, I knew that my birthday would feel a little different this year. Whenever I think of birthdays, I don’t think...

A picture of me and Katelynn back in March in my favorite room in the school, room 140.

To my other half

Arpita Das , Staff Writer November 23, 2022

Dear Katelynn,  It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I realized that there were such kind people in this world, and I never realized the true gravity that friendships held until...

TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2022: Arpita Das

TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2022: Arpita Das

Arpita Das , Staff writer November 22, 2022

Thank you to… Mom - For always being there for me  Despite how stubborn I can be, you never choose to give up on me, and I think that’s what makes you such an amazing person. You always make...

The symbol for the student advisory council.

Forest Hills Central Student Advisory Council strives for improving the environment that is our school

Arpita Das , Staff writer November 21, 2022

When most people think about a club, they often think about collaborating with other students within their school. Junior Lucy Wu, one of the eight members representing the Student Advisory Council for...

October 28th, the day I told one of my teachers he resembled a superhero.

I associate the special moments in my life with the objects that I encounter

Arpita Das, Staff Writer November 15, 2022

Lately, I’ve been feeling the need to hold on to the present for as long as I can. It’s my junior year of high school, and it’s now just hit me that I’m not living out my high school experience...

Black Friday, a holidays that always seems to creep up on me.

What are the best ways to get the best Black Friday deals?

Arpita Das , Staff Writer November 10, 2022

I love November, but to be honest, who doesn’t? It’s one of the last months before the end of the semester, my birth month, and a month for giving thanks. Ironically, it’s also the month when Black...

Senior Emma Costello who has her sights set on studying Kinesiology, the science of muscles.

Emma Costello finds a passion for kinesiology through her philanthropy for helping people

Arpita Das , Staff Writer November 7, 2022

For as long as senior Emma Costello could remember, she has always held a passion for the medical field. But, she never anticipated that she would find such satisfaction in doing simple tasks such as being...

What most of us envision when we think about the end of high school.

Grades can only reveal so much about the persona of a high school student

Arpita Das , Staff Writer November 3, 2022

AP US History teacher Steve Labenz has had students with parent's expectations set so high he thought they had to be joking. Because Labenz teaches one of the most difficult AP classes at FHC, he understands...

What a regular week looks like.

Three-day weekends should become a weekly thing

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 31, 2022

Growing up, I was a very curious person, and whenever I would inquire about my parents' childhood, it would always revolve around their life in school.  My parents are from India, and back then, they...

Grades and the significance behind them Q&As: Ava Redmond

Grades and the significance behind them Q&As: Ava Redmond

Arpita Das, Staff Writer October 27, 2022

Name: Ava Redmond Grade: 12 What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the word 'grades'? “Hard work, studying, and tests.” What advice you would give to someone who stresses...

Grades and the significance behind them Q&As: Ian Mahoney

Grades and the significance behind them Q&A’s: Ian Mahoney

Arpita Das, Staff Writer October 27, 2022

Name: Ian Mahoney Grade: 12 What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the word "grades"? "The thing that comes to my mind when I think of grades is spending nights studying for tests...

A moment of one of the many intense monopoly games that we play during the period.

Dear Chloe

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 26, 2022

Dear Chloe,  Joining Model UN in my junior year of high school was one of the best decisions that I ever made.  Before I met you, I never realized the power of friendship, and I can honestly say...

Grades are more than just an measurement of good or bad on the spectrum.

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 26, 2022

Grades: they’re all something high schoolers have to deal with. Homework and assessments along with GPAs and AP classes are all factors that determine the trajectory for our future, right? Wrong. Although...

A picture of me my sophomore year of high school

My numbers are no longer in control of me

Arpita Das, Staff Writer October 26, 2022

I know that feeling.  That angst-ridden feeling you get when you're just aching to know what score you got on an assessment seconds after turning it in.  The lump sensation you get in your throat...

Investigative series: Arpita Das - Grades and the significance behind them

Investigative series: Arpita Das – Grades and the significance behind them

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 24, 2022

I am someone who would revolve my life around grades. No matter what I had to sacrifice, what mattered to me most was the numerical value upon completing any assignment or assessment.  But, over the...

Moments after I found out that I had passed my drivers test.

I finally got my driver’s license

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 17, 2022

When I was younger, I remember telling my mother that I would simply walk or bike everywhere because I was too afraid to drive.  But, when my mom would ask me, “What will happen when it rains or...

A photograph of senior Addy Scholtens.

Addy Scholtens finds a passion for nursing through the irony of her last name.

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 13, 2022

Senior Addy Scholtens finds it funny every time she is asked if she is related to Human Anatomy teacher Chad Scholten. Although they have similar (but not the same) last names, there is no relation; however,...

Google

Mowing the lawn: a curse or a courtesy

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 12, 2022

I have never been someone who was ever really worried about the way our environment functions, but ever since I started taking AP Environmental Science, I realized that we impact the world more than we...

A picture of the improv team at the end of their show.

Improv Central 2022 prompted laughs from start to finish

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 3, 2022

This Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending Improv Central, provided by FHC’s theater department in the auditorium. Although this show was neither a play nor a musical, I was entertained throughout...

A picture of me and my friends during the long weekend.

Goodbye sophomore year, hello junior year

Arpita Das , Staff Writer October 3, 2022

In high school, they say that junior year is supposed to be the most stressful, yet important, year of high school. But my year so far has felt neither strenuous nor pressurizing, and it’s hard for me...

A picture of my math homework with the parametric functions included.

What is the significance of using calculators in math?

Arpita Das , Staff Writer September 28, 2022

The first word that comes to mind when I think of the word math is 'numbers.' But, the first object that comes to mind is a calculator. Ever since the 6th grade, I have always used a calculator when it...

Choir teacher Sean Ivory and some of the current members of Central Singers before one of their performances last year.

After three years, Vocal Jazz Night is making a comeback stronger than ever

Arpita Das , Staff Writer September 27, 2022

For the first time in three years, Central Singers will be attending Vocal Jazz Night, a one-day event at the Fine Arts Center on Oct. 20, giving choirs from different schools a chance to come together...

A picture of me multitasking,eating while watching television, something I do without even realizing.

How multitasking affects our eating habits

Arpita Das , Staff Writer September 19, 2022

As someone who is stuck in the continuous cycle of going to school, participating in extracurriculars, and constantly doing schoolwork for upcoming assessments, it would be dishonest if I said that no...

Senior Lara Butlevics, member of FHC FX.

Lara Butlevics has found her love for editing through FX

Arpita Das , Staff Writer September 15, 2022

Many students find themselves searching for their passions in high school, but this is unlike senior Lara Butlevics, who has always had a talent for video editing.  With older brothers who took the...

The cover for Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Minions: The Rise of Gru continues to surprise and entertain me

Arpita Das , Staff Writer September 14, 2022

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the word "childhood" is cartoons such as Mickey Mouse and Tom and Jerry—mainly because these were the characters that I grew up watching and are ultimately...

The logo of Adam Norris youtube channel.

To my APUSH 3rd hour

Arpita Das , Staff Writer June 4, 2022

Dear APUSH 3rd hour,  If you would have told me a year ago that my second favorite subject in school was history, I would have laughed and instantly run away from the future version of myself. But,...

A picture of me 4 days after my operation decorating a pillowcase with a nurse

Five years later

Arpita Das , Staff Writer May 31, 2022

Most people look at me as your average girl just living her life in high school; a girl that works four hours every Tuesday, writes for the school newspaper, and is a part of the Science Olympiad team.  But...

Toscana is a Danish originated film that came out on Netflix in April of 2022

The Danish-Italian drama Toscana helped me realize the significance behind restaurants.

Arpita Das, Staff Writer May 27, 2022

The first word that comes to mind the second I enter the kitchen is "appetizing." This isn’t because of the food that is being made, but rather the smell of the food that was cooked; the smell of my...

Grading systems can vary among countries worldwide.

What do grading systems look like on a worldwide scale?

Arpita Das , Staff Writer May 23, 2022

For the past 16 years, I have lived in America, but as someone who has parents from India—who moved all the way across the world to America—it can often be difficult to understand the significance...

A picture of Senior Julianna Hahn at a photoshoot.

Julianna Hahn has found her creative outlet through her time spent at FHC

Arpita Das , Staff Writer May 23, 2022

From having a hip injury her junior year of high school to finding her creative outlet for life, senior Julianna Hahn has found her passion in life and has ever since been working towards achieving that...

The cover of the netflix documentary Our Father.

Netflix’s documentary “Our Father” has made me perceive the world around me from a different point of view

Arpita Das , Staff Writer May 13, 2022

Sometimes, I wonder how different my life would have been if maybe I was the oldest sibling, if I was an only child, or even if I maybe had an older brother or younger sister. Regardless of these thoughts...

Prom Court Q&As: Tananya Prankprakma

Prom Court Q&As: Tananya Prankprakma

Arpita Das , Staff Writer May 12, 2022

What was your reaction to getting on prom court? "I don’t really remember my exact reaction. I was at home, so some of my friends texted me to tell me I was on. I was happily surprised since I didn’t...

Me my first semester of sophomore year probably scrambling last minute for a test or quiz.

If my sophomore year was a person

Arpita Das , Staff Writer May 6, 2022

At the start of my high school career I was very quiet and reserved; I would spend every weekend studying and never give myself breaks. I would only devote myself to the part of my life that I knew would...

The first time meeting my dad.

Dear Dad, it’s never you against the world, it’s us against the world

Arpita Das , Staff Writer April 29, 2022

Dear Dad,  My rock, my soul, and my warrior that gets me through the darkest of days; oh how thankful I am for you. Your ability to remain calm despite how caught up I can get in life is the reason...

Dhar Manns youtube channel logo.

Dhar Mann’s YouTube channel has hit me with a sense of wit along with wisdom

Arpita Das , Staff Writer April 24, 2022

Every day, when I come home from school, you can catch me doing one of two things: either watching YouTube or Netflix. I enjoy Netflix because there is always an array of shows to choose from but as someone...

Me in my favorite classroom, room 139, with my favorite teacher, Mr. George.

The Central Trend is more than just a newspaper to me

Arpita Das , Junior Writer April 11, 2022

There are certain moments in my life that I wish I could just erase from existence and other moments that I wish I could relive again and again. But what makes memories so special isn’t what actually...

FHCs entire cast for the musical Cinderella this past school week. This photo was taken by Rebekah McDowell

FHC’s Theatre Department put on Cinderella with a whirlwind of angst and adventure

Arpita Das , Staff Writer March 21, 2022

When it comes to singing and dancing, I am more of a singer, mainly because I can relate to music more and I find myself less stressed when I have background music running while completing homework. Although...

A picture I took a couple days after our drive-in 8th grade graduation.

The number in the grade book does not determine my success in life

Arpita Das, Staff Writer March 21, 2022

Ever since I started middle school, my main focus has been centered around one thing: grades. I would drop everything just to maintain my grades, even if that means giving up my chance at a social life...

A freshman during homecoming week holding a banner.

Incoming Freshmen Night gives younger students a glimpse into their future

Arpita Das, Junior Writer March 8, 2022

Every year, FHC loses a class of seniors only to be replaced by an incoming batch of freshmen. Counselor Jodi Arsulowicz always finds this time of year so exciting because of how energized the next class...

Me when I was a baby at the age of two years.

I don’t know if I’m ready to grow up

Arpita Das , Staff Writer March 4, 2022

Growing up, my mom always said that I was innocent, and my dad always said I was inquisitive. In my grandma’s eyes, I will never be less than her sweet, little grandchild, and from my sister's perspective,...

Every episode in this podcast is special, because they all feel like therapy sessions.

On Purpose with Jay Shetty emphasizes the importance of self-care.

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 25, 2022

About a year ago, I was an online student. I would wake up, open my computer, and that was it; that was school for me. Education was confined within the four walls of my bedroom, and I did this nonstop...

A picture of senior Amy Wang in her last year of high school.

Amy Wang has found her niche through the National Honors Society

Arpita Das , Junior Writer February 22, 2022

Senior Amy Wang finds it difficult when she is faced with a question that she can't answer. At the start of high school, Amy found a passion for helping people, and ever since her sophomore year of high...

Me and my sister at a museum in Washington DC.

Dear Akansha, I wish we still lived together

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 22, 2022

I never thought that I would miss living in the same household as my sister. Up until about two years ago, my sister, Akansha, and I lived in the same house. We are three years apart in age but four...

A cover of the album Its Not So Bad.

It’s Not So Bad was an uplifting album that made me feel better about myself

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 11, 2022

When I listen to music, it’s like traveling to my own world. A world where it’s almost impossible to feel anything but happy; a place where only I exist. I often find that when I listen to a new song,...

FHC teachers who have all had a different experience with quarantined students

Teachers at FHC work around the chaos of accommodating quarantined students

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 9, 2022

The first thing that comes to mind when AP Literature and Language teacher Lisa Penninga thinks of the word "quarantine" is the feeling of being separated from other people and having to detach from others,...

The dress I wore to a wedding that I attended over winter break.

I am not your average American

Arpita Das , Staff Writer February 4, 2022

“You’ve never eaten steak?” “You don’t have chores?” “You never get grounded?” “Your parents pay for you?”  These are all things people have told me intermittently from...

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid brought to life with a film.

The latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie brings me back to my childhood

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 28, 2022

Growing up, I was never that kid who enjoyed reading books. Whenever someone would ask me if I preferred the book or the movie, I would always say the movie because it was more entertaining and quicker...

Freshman Kris Anderson along with his teammates during a competition.

Freshman Kris Anderson finds joy in school through socializing

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 26, 2022

Freshman Kris Anderson is constantly finding new ways to interact with people. For Kris, this can mean eating lunch with students from various grades, joining multiple sports teams, or even taking...

Moments in time where I was at my lowest and my highest.

My life is its own story that continues to write itself

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 24, 2022

Before I was born, my grandpa from both sides of the family passed away, and my grandma from my mom’s side lived most of her life without her husband. My grandma never attended college and has lived...

Rob Dial, the host of the podcast, The Mindset Mentor.

The Mindset Mentor positively changed my perspective on life

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 14, 2022

As someone who is out of the house seven hours a day for five days of the week, it would be accurate to say that I am always on the go. Whether that be staying after school or having to attend doctor's...

Andrew Swanstrom, Holly McLenithan, and Kate Sherman are all college bound next year

The Class of 2022 hopes to start a new chapter of their lives after high school

Arpita Das , Staff Writer January 13, 2022

As the second semester creeps upon us, for many seniors, this can be a very exciting but also nerve-wracking experience. For some students, second semester can mean waiting to hear back from colleges...

A picture of me and my uncle, and all of his favorite things.

Dear Uncle J, your presence taught me a lesson

Arpita Das , Junior Writer December 17, 2021

Dear Uncle J,  It has now been 164 days since your passing, and the only thing I can say is that I wish I could've seen you one last time. Every time you would come visit us, it would always be a surprise,...

The cover for the netflix movie, Single All the Way.

Single All the Way taught me about the true meaning of Christmas

Arpita Das , Junior Writer December 10, 2021

There are three reasons why I always enjoy this time of year. My birthday is always exactly a month before Christmas, Black Friday never fails to be enjoyable, and Christmas and New Year are next to each...

A picture of Nora Magers swimming during her swim meet.

Nora Magers finds her passion through FHC’s Girls Swim and Dive Team

Arpita Das , Junior Writer December 9, 2021

For the past eight years, freshman Nora Magers has been making repetitive strokes back and forth for the FHC Girls Swim and Dive Team. Nora started swimming when her mom–who has been swimming since she...

A question mark that I drew inside of my notebook for math.

The fear I find in asking questions

Arpita Das , Junior Writer December 3, 2021

Over the course of the past 15 years, I have been told three things interchangeably. I’ve been told that I have good handwriting, been constantly reminded of the body hair on my skin, and that I ask...

TCTs The Countless Thanks 2021: Arpita Das

TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2021: Arpita Das

Arpita Das , Junior Writer November 23, 2021

To my sister, Akansha Das - for being the best sister ever  Through thick and thin, you have always been there for me whenever I need you. From helping me with my homework to being my personal chauffeur...

Amazons Zulay Original Handheld Milk Frother.

Amazon’s Zulay Milk Frother fluffed up my frappuccinos

Arpita Das , Junior Writer November 19, 2021

During the time spent in quarantine—a time period when everyone was isolated—I can assume that most of us got use to transforming our lives into a fully virtual environment. For some of us, this...

Load More Stories