Making the world a better place
By Lynn Wolstenholme
When tragedy struck in her native land of Sri Lanka, Potomac Falls High School senior Sarasi Jayaratne began working to make the conditions in the country better.
“I felt guilty that I was sitting on a couch when people were in dire need of help,” Sarasi said.
After hearing reports of the devastation and lack of educational materials after the 2004 tsunami, Sarasi, now 18, chose to help the children in the country and began collecting books.
She started the Keep Reading Foundation, which has collected more than 10,000 books and helped open 15 libraries in Sri Lanka. The foundation – with a Web site at www.keepreading.org -- is currently in the process of becoming a nonprofit. She plans to continue to collect books and send them to more nations in need.
Sarasi is a member of the Academy of Science, a magnet school of independent research at Dominion High School. At school, she has moved her environmental passions to the forefront by beginning the Go for Green Club to educate her counterparts on what they can do to help the environment and the community.
She also has picked up a new hobby of graphic design that she plans to delve more into during her little spare time, along with her other hobbies of soccer and piano, both of which she has been involved with for many years.
As she graduates from high school, she will have to say goodbye to one of her longtime loves -- being a Girl Scout.
“My senior year is my last year being a Girl Scout,” she said. “I have done so many activities with them, such as spelunking and horseback riding.”
Sarasi was accepted into Cornell University this fall, with help from her 4.07 grade point average and her seven advanced placement courses.
She plans to major in biological sciences.
“I love biology and I want to help people,” she said.