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The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

Raina Lahiri

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer

Raina Lahiri is a junior and Highlander editor at Carlmont High School. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and spending time with friends and family.

Twitter: @RainaLahiri

All content by Raina Lahiri
Pretty privilege is a taboo topic in our society, despite being all around us.

Opinion: Pretty privilege is real

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer December 9, 2021

Pretty privilege exists. It’s sad, but it’s true. Pretty privilege is the idea that people who are deemed more attractive receive better treatment and are, therefore, “privileged.” Pretty privilege...

One of the most popular forms of birth control for women is the pill, which can cost up to $50 a month.

Opinion: Birth control should be free

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer November 18, 2021

At CVS, you can buy a pack of six condoms for $6.99. That’s about $1.17 per condom. According to Planned Parenthood, one pack of birth control pills costs up to $50. And you need one pack per month....

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been FDA approved for over two months. Yet, the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) has made no steps towards mandating student vaccinations.

Opinion: There is no reason Carlmont shouldn’t mandate vaccines

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer October 29, 2021

Imagine not having to wear masks all the time. Imagine being able to safely attend indoor school events, like prom and formal. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Well, if the Sequoia Union High School...

The death of dreams: How the Taliban takeover threatens female freedoms

The death of dreams: How the Taliban takeover threatens female freedoms

Elle Horst and Raina Lahiri October 25, 2021

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Popular social media apps such as VSCO, Tik Tok, Instagram, and Snapchat promote "the perfect body," fostering unrealistic beauty standards for girls and boys alike.

Opinion: Unrealistic beauty standards exist for boys, too

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer October 6, 2021

I think everybody would agree that in a world run by social media, society has inadvertently created unrealistic beauty standards for girls. Seeing curated photos of already beautiful girls while scrolling...

A student slumps over in stress after receiving a berating text from their parent. Far too often, parents feel the need to micromanage their child's academics.

Opinion: There is a fine line between and motivating and hovering

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer September 15, 2021

“Which colleges are you applying to?” As a senior, I’ve been asked that question about 500 times. Maybe more. After all, in today’s world, a teenager’s success seems to be defined by the college...

Academics to incarceration

Academics to incarceration

Raina Lahiri and Aylin Salahifar June 1, 2021

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Biden-Harris supporters gather around the Capitol in support for the president and vice president.

The Inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden

Jessica Conley and Raina Lahiri January 26, 2021

Throughout history, the U.S. has witnessed 58 inaugurations in times of celebration and ruckus. In April 1789, two months after starting his first term, George Washington took the oath of office on...

This year, San Mateo County residents took to the polls to reelect Jackie Speier as their congressional representative.

The Congressional Elections

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer November 21, 2020

Local Elections: Jackie Speier, the Democratic candidate for District 14 in California, won the 2020 election by a large margin of 79.3% against Republican candidate Ran Petel.  Speier has been serving...

Land Protection

Maya Kornyeyeva and Raina Lahiri November 16, 2020

Natural disasters have detrimental effects on the environment. The California wildfires are no exception, having destroyed forests, structures, and more since they initially began in August.    One...

On Sept. 10, the sepia tint caused by the active California wild fires reflects off of the water beside Oracle headquarters.

Water

Water.  It covers nearly three-fourths of the entire planet and is vital to all life on Earth.  Although it may seem too vast and uncontrollable to be impacted, it is not in actuality an indestructible...

The Santa Rosa Glass Fire burned over 1,517 buildings and was active for 23 days. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Earth

As we delve deeper into a state of climate disaster, the best way to see the ramifications is simple - just look around. Our Earth is struggling, and it’s evident in everything from the...

US President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden start exchanging during the first presidential debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 29, 2020.

A voter’s guide to the 2020 election

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President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden participate in the final presidential debate at Belmont University on October 22, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. This was the last debate between the two candidates before the November 3 election.

Meet the presidential candidates

Ayal Meyers and Raina Lahiri October 30, 2020

Joe Biden [siteorigin_widget class="SiteOrigin_Panels_Widgets_Image"][/siteorigin_widget]   After 43 years in politics and three attempts, Joe Biden finally progressed to be the democratic...

President Donald Trump, left, and former Vice President Joe Biden during the first presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Chaos in Cleveland: Biden and Trump quarrel in the presidential debate

President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden faced off in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday in their first of three presidential debates ahead of the 2020 election. Moderated by Fox News'...

Most people are voting by mail this year as a result of COVID-19, while in previous years polling stations have been the most popular form of voting.

How the 2020 election will shape the future of Carlmont students

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer September 18, 2020

2020 has been a challenging year. Between COVID-19, a declining economy, the Black Lives Matter movement, and more, the upcoming election has proven to be more crucial than ever. In one of the most...

Joe Biden gives a speech on the last night of the Democratic National Convention, proudly accepting his presidential nomination.

Recap of the 2020 Democratic National Convention

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer September 9, 2020

The 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC) kicked off Aug. 17 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, nominating Joe Biden for president with Kamala Harris as his running mate. A four-day event, the...

People will often express their negative opinions on others without thinking twice. However, this  criticism often leads peers to feel insecure about themselves.

Opinion: Expressing unnecessary opinions promotes insecurity

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer May 12, 2020

Everybody has an opinion. It's unavoidable. Frequently, people will say that it's bad to be opinionated since it often leads to conflicts. I disagree. Having an opinion is perfectly fine. However,...

Often times, Asian American students' academic achievements are minimized due to the racial stereotype that "Asians are naturally smart."

Opinion: Race does not define intelligence

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer April 15, 2020

Growing up, I always felt the expectation to excel in academics. Straight A’s weren’t seen as an accomplishment; rather, anything less was viewed as a failure. My parents instilled a hard work ethic...

A group of malnourished children in Haiti eat a small meal together.

Opinion: World hunger can be ended, but people need to put in the effort

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer March 19, 2020

Eight hundred twenty million. That's how many people suffer from a lack of food across the globe. Growing up, I was always told never to waste food. Adults would say that "there are people who don't...

Students, no matter what age, look up to their teachers to support them as they experience huge changes in their  personal and academic lives.

Teachers reflect on personal experiences to enhance learning environment

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer February 26, 2020

Teachers are the key not only to the academic development of an individual but to the social dynamic of a school's community. High school teachers, in particular, contribute to the formative experiences...

Since the risks of electronic cigarettes have been brought to light, many are beginning to turn towards vaping essential oils.

The chaos in the calm

Elle Horst and Raina Lahiri February 22, 2020

Vaping. The invention originally created to help adults quit smoking has become an epidemic that youth and adults alike are familiar with. Some may even say that, due to its popularity among teenagers,...

ASB advertises how students can incorporate environmentalism into their everyday lives.

Waste-free week encourages environmental consciousness

Raina Lahiri, Staff Writer January 29, 2020

Reduce, reuse, recycle, repeat. The concept of "going green" has become a global phenomenon practiced by people all over the world. Whether it's a store replacing plastic straws with paper ones, or...

Crowds of people swarm to Valley Fair during Black Friday.

Black Friday fails to live up to expectations

Elle Horst and Raina Lahiri December 2, 2019

Despite its amazing deals, Black Friday  impacts the environment and can be a poor experience for customers and workers alike. Black Friday is widely considered the biggest shopping event of the year....

A sign points to a nearby polling place in California. The Voter's Choice Act makes it easier for voters to cast their ballots.

Voter’s Choice Act aims to improve democracy and voter participation

Elle Horst and Raina Lahiri November 3, 2019

To increase voter turnout, California has implemented the Voter’s Choice Act.    The U.S. is one of the only nations in the world where everybody has the right to vote freely. However, only a little...

A participant excitedly raises his hands as he begins the 5K.

Water Dog Run supports education and enhances Belmont sense of community

Elle Horst and Raina Lahiri October 14, 2019

People throughout Belmont participated in the second annual Belmont Water Dog Run to raise money for education and encourage a tight-knit community. The event included a 5K, 10K, mile fun, and a dog...

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