![“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)
![“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)
![“[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)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasn't making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable," Carter Chadwick ('22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
10 classic Christmas movies to watch this holiday season
December 21, 2012
There is no better way to relax and spend time with friends and family during the holiday season than to grab some snacks, sit on the couch, and watch your favorite Christmas movie.
Here are 10 movies that should make everyone’s must-watch list during this year’s holiday break.
1. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – The Grinch’s heart grows three sizes in this classic tale of greed turned to generosity. It depicts the true meaning of Christmas and how even the most heartless can grow to appreciate the holiday spirit.
2. “A Christmas Carol” – This timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge based on the work of Charles Dickens almost 200 years ago embodies the Christmas spirit of giving, family, and redemption. The Christmas spirits provide excitement, horror, and touching moments to keep anyone engaged. The recent Jim Carey version adds a dash of humor, but there are classic versions of the movie that are equally enjoyable.
3. “A Christmas Story” – This hilarious movie set in the 1940’s explores RRRalphie’s quest to convince his mother and Santa to buy him a Red Rider B.B. Gun for Christmas. The quirky characters and endearing storyline provide plenty of laughs for viewers.
4. “The Nightmare before Christmas” – The scary, creepy, hair-raising animation is everything that you would expect from producer Tim Burton. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, brings plenty of spooky twists and turns to this riveting storyline, finally learning the true meaning of Christmas love and forgiveness.
5. “The Polar Express” – This touching tale is about a boy who assumes that Santa is not real, but becomes a believer after a magical trip to the North Pole. It is the perfect movie to watch with younger siblings, who will get a kick out of seeing Santa on the screen and revel in the magic of Christmas.
6. “Home Alone” – Another family favorite, this slap-stick comedy keeps everyone laughing at Kevin McCallister’s clever, pain inflicting pranks on the burglars attempting to rob his house. It is a fun movie to watch with friends, but don’t try any of these pranks in your own home!
7. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – You can find this movie adaptation of the comic strip “Peanuts” on TV just about every day during the week of Christmas. Addressing the idea of the over-commercialization of Christmas, this movie is great for all ages; the cartoonish fun appeals to younger siblings, while themes of secularism and religion make it interesting for you and your parents.
8. “Elf” – A comical Will Ferrell film, this movie about a regular boy adopted by Santa to work as an elf will keep you laughing. The constant goofy humor and the touching story of Buddy the human elf’s quest to find his biological father will put everyone in the holiday spirit.
9. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” – Everyone, young and old, knows the famous song, and the movie is no less famous. Adapted in 1964, this animation is easily one of the oldest on the list, and possibly the most child-friendly. It is a tale about the value of being different and how a misfit reindeer earns the lead position on Santa’s sleigh-pulling team.
10. “The Santa Clause” – This movie is a comedy about a toy store executive who has to take Santa’s place when Saint Nick disappears after falling off a roof. The movie will provide unadulterated fun for you and your friends as Scott Calvin makes his exciting, humorous transformation into Santa Clause.
