About Pratik Cherian

Age: 17
School: Homeschooled

Interests: Sports,Politics,Technology, Travel, and History.

Hobbies: Reading, following sports, politics, news, collecting sports cards and coins, computer games, and playing with my brothers and sister.
Favorite Color: Black or Green
Favorite Book(s): The Bible, the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien, Any book by Ted Dekker, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis, Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Nothing Less Than Victory: An oral history of D-Day by Russel Miller
Favorite Movie(s): The Lord of the Rings, The Magnificent Seven, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Remember the Titans and Monsters Inc.
Favorite Food: Any food is good food!
Favorite YPress Story: Getting to talk with John McCain!!

Stories by Pratik

	Swordplay makes a point for youngsters By Elise Renollet, 16, Pratik Cherian, 14, Katie Bolinger, 16 Two opponents face each other, tense, anticipating the moment when they will be locked in combat. Suddenly, they raise their swords, and the clash of steel on steel reverberates as they engage in a vigorous bout of swordplay. Sound like a scene from "Pirates of the Caribbean" or "Robin Hood," right? Wrong.
	Education's value remains high By Paul Winston, 15, Pratik Cherian, 15 Every week youth around the country hear the same refrain: "You must get a good education." But why would a kid want a good education? Y-Press interviewed 10 Indianapolis-area students and three parents during the 2006-07 school year to find out. The pupils represent private schools, home schools, public schools and charter schools.
	Using horses to enhance human health By Sarah Zabel, 14, Celia Ristow, 15, Cathy Mangan, 17, Pratik Cherian, 16 Many kids, struggling with their physical or mental health, have found that horses can be part of their therapeutic path. After undergoing equine education, children who couldn't walk have taken their first step, children who couldn't talk have said their first word, and children scarred by sexual or physical abuse who couldn't trust have opened up to others for the first time. Learn more about these Indiana equine-facilated riding centers.
	Many miles of motoring drew his family closer By Pratik Cherian, 15 One day this summer, my mom gathered my three siblings and me and gave us the amazing news: "This summer we're going to Orlando for vacation. While we're there, we're going to spend two days at Disney World!" "All right!" we yelled. I quickly became the skeptical one, "How are we going to get there?" "We're driving!" she announced. "How long a drive?" was my next question. "About 18 hours," was my
	Burmese refugees By Cathy Mangan, 17, Genevieve Yedlicka, 16, Ben Dorson, 18, Jordan Denari, 17, Pratik Cherian, 16
	Young political activist: Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J. By Pratik Cherian, 16 Four years ago, Conor Rogers saw a need for political volunteers and created the New Jersey Teenage Republican Organization (www.njtars.org) to mobilize young people. Though it started out as a school club, it expanded to serve the county and then the state.
	The immigrant vote By Mallory St. Claire, 17, Becky Mangan, 13, Pratik Cherian, 16, Max Gabovitch, 15 Pollsters and analysts love to identify voting blocs, using them to explain voting trends and to make projections. The Latino voting bloc has been repeatedly analyzed, often getting credit for swaying elections, such as the 2004 presidential contest in which incumbent George W. Bush defeated U.S. Sen. John Kerry.
	Immigration: youth voice By Pratik Cherian, 16, Max Gabovitch, 15, Becky Mangan, 13 Do Latinos vote as a bloc? According to students at Duarte High School in Los Angeles County, the answer is sometimes.
	Young political activist: Alexander City, Ala. By Pratik Cherian, 17 Four years ago, Ava Lowery was frustrated. She felt that just speaking out against the war in Iraq wasn't enough and decided to combine her love of video, journalism and politics and start a Web site, www.peacetakescourage.com.
	Republican 2008 Convention By Tommaso Verderame, 15, Paul Winston, 16, Justin Byers, 15, Pratik Cherian, 17, Ariana Gainer, 13, Jordan Gaither, 17, Becky Mangan, 13, Tommy Mangan, 12, Jake Thornburgh, 15

Photos by Pratik

Pratik Cherian / Y-Press)">