Rita Ray does it all
The Huguenot teen
is currently researching the affect of a spice on tumorous brain
cells
Staten Island Advance - May 1, 2005
How many teens do you know who are looking to cure diseases at the
age of 15? Before I met Ritapa Ray, I didn't know any. Now I know
one.
On the surface, Rita (as she likes to be called) is an average
Staten Island Tech kid. She participates in sports, clubs and is an
extremely diligent worker. However, the rest of Rita's life is
anything but average. The Huguenot resident already knows four
different languages and is currently researching tumorous brain
cells.
Rita was born in West Bengal, India, and lived there for two
nonconsecutive years during preschool and sixth grade. Somewhere in
between that, Rita's become fluent in Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and of
course, English. While on her native soil, she attended a local
Indian school. In addition, she also went to an international
school, alongside the offspring of foreign diplomats. The demanding
English-based curriculum at the international school called for her
to take three languages simultaneously, along with chemistry,
physics, biology, European history, geography, literature and
English. At the age of 11, Rita was learning more than most do in
all three years of junior high.
CURING DISEASES
Now, she spends at least 16 hours a week working at the College of
Staten Island laboratory. Her research there outlines the effects
that the dietary spice, curcumine, has on tumorous brain cells. The
seasoning is a part of the diet of those in South Asian countries,
who consequently, have a low cancer rate. Rita believes that
curcumine will have a similar effect on these cells.
Wow!
Rita is a Science Engineering Research Program student at Staten
Island Technical High School. She is participating in the most
prestigious pre-college science scholarship competition, hoping to
win what is commonly known as a "Junior Nobel Prize."
"It's really hard to fit it into your schedule, but in the end
everything becomes worth it when you see the results," Rita says
about her SERP project. The assignment calls for a mentor, a place
that will be filled in by none other than Dr. Indrani Ray, her
mother. Both of her parents have a Ph.D. in chemistry and
biochemistry. It is apparent how she became involved in this complex
subject matter.
SHE'S VERY ACTIVE
In her spare time, which she doesn't have much of, Rita adds a few
more activities to her list. She swims during the fall months in
order to stay in shape to play basketball during the winter. She
also mixes in three kickboxing classes a week, which she refers to
as "just cardio exercise." Rita's also a member of Tech's
Asian-American club, takes classical voice lessons, and in the past,
Indian dance lessons.
Very involved in her Indian culture, Rita participates in a Bengali
festival, in honor of the Hindu goddess of learning, each February.
"I'm constantly surrounded with Indian culture," she says, regarding
the competition. In this event, she sings, competes in a poetry
reciting contest and takes a reading and writing test, all of
course, in a foreign language. While taking preparatory singing
lessons, Rita also spends the two weeks before the competition
memorizing and acting out a poem she has never seen before.
Her bubbly personality accompanies her love of singing and dancing.
Rita is a social butterfly whose pleasant disposition affects
everyone she encounters. While I'm still trying to figure out how
she keeps her sanity and juggle everything, Rita is looking toward
the future. "Basically everything I do is directed toward college,"
she says in a nonchalant demeanor. She has big aspirations for her
profession, wanting to become a doctor, or work in the business or
pharmaceutical fields.
Even if she doesn't find a cure for cancer, I'm considering throwing
some curcumine on my pizza tonight.
By Joseph Sangiorgio
Reprinted here with permission from the
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