![LALC Vice President of External Affairs Raeanne Li (11) explains the International Phonetic Alphabet to attendees. "We decided to have more fun topics this year instead of just talking about the same things every year so our older members can also [enjoy],” Raeanne said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_4627-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Humans of Harker: Ashwin Rao develops his interest in performing arts
![“My friends often describe me as a typical Indian auntie or uncle. I do [agree], a lot of my mannerisms are like an Indian auntie or uncle. My ideas and beliefs are much more modern,” Ashwin Rao (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2017-04-15-at-8.29.44-AM.png)
“My friends often describe me as a typical Indian auntie or uncle. I do [agree], a lot of my mannerisms are like an Indian auntie or uncle. My ideas and beliefs are much more modern,” Ashwin Rao (12) said.
April 15, 2017
Senior Ashwin Rao’s high school journey consisted of finding and following his passion. Ashwin wound down the path of performing arts, from his early roots in Indian classical music to his work in Harker’s performing arts groups.
“My sister and my mom have been learning Indian classical music since before I was born,” he said. “I started taking classes when I was five. I added Indian classical violin and Western piano.”
Ashwin did not always know that music would soon become a passion of his.
“[Music] was there, but it was never integral to my life,” he said.
In middle school, Ashwin joined the tech crew of the spring musical, The Boyfriend.
“That experience gave me so many new friends that were like me. [It] drove me to actually be in the musical the following year,” Ashwin said.
His musical influences include both Indian classical music and Western music, which he believes interact harmoniously.
“It’s really cool when I see how the two line up, or how I can use the theory of one to help me do better with the other,” he said.
As he entered high school, Ashwin was initially unsure of how committed he would become to the performing arts program.
“I was a little bit hesitant,” he said. “I didn’t really realize how big a part in my life [music] was going to be until junior year, and by then it was too late.”
By the end of his sophomore year, he was sold: performing arts had become a part of who he was. He continued on to secure his place in Downbeat, participate in Harker theatre productions and hold the position of Assistant Director of Cantilena. Recently, Ashwin was selected to travel to Minnesota in March with a coveted spot in the National Honor Choir.
“It’s been a very gradual progression of how much time I’ve spent on music. I feel like it didn’t really occur to me that it was such a huge force in my life until the end of sophomore year, or the beginning of junior year,” he said.
Since finding a place of belonging in music, Ashwin hasn’t looked back, only wishing he had found his passion for music sooner.
“What you have been doing in the past should not dictate what you are going to do in the future because that closes a lot of doors that could have led to great places,” Ashwin said.
