![“[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)
With Christmas and New Years rapidly approaching, last-minute holiday gift shopping has officially begun. If you are in need of a suitable gift for a friend or family member, keep these ideas in mind.
1. Makeup – Products range from drugstore to high-end, providing a wide variety of options. With the abundance of holiday eyeshadow and lip gloss palettes available this season, choosing an appropriate gift is an easy task.
2. Jewelry – Like makeup, jewelry also spans from affordable to expensive. Consider purchasing jewelry from stores that sell handmade jewelry. Such shops are usually less expensive and offer more original-looking work. Even though the idea may seem cliche, a well-made “best friends” necklace will mean much to a close friend.
3. Holiday Sweater – If you know your friend’s clothes size, buy him or her a nice sweater. In correspondence with the season, a cheesy Christmas sweater makes a fitting holiday gift for everybody.
4. Accessories – Accessories are an alternative to clothing and range from scarves to wallets and handbags. While younger girls will appreciate sparkly pink bags and scarves, boys will be more inclined to like a baseball cap. For adults, a leather wallet is a sophisticated and smart gift.
5. Books – A good book will keep anybody occupied and entertained. Reading is a great way to pass time during the dreary winter months. If purchasing a book for a small child, make sure the book has many pictures.
6. Concert Tickets – Though on the pricey side, concert tickets are an extremely thoughtful present. Friends and family alike will sincerely appreciate the opportunity to see their favorite singer or band perform live.
7. Video Games – Video games are an entertaining way to relax this holiday season. Even though not all video games are affordable, they are still priced within reason.
8. iPhone/iPad cases – With the wide assortment of cases available and the affordable price tag, iPhone and iPad cases are an easy gift to buy. Again, there are a plethora of holiday cases that are suitable for everyone.
8. Holiday Candles – In addition to lighting up any room, candles provide a refreshing scent. Popular holiday scents include Pine, Cinnamon, Vanilla, Caramel, and many more.
10. Chocolate – Waking up to find food under the Christmas tree is a wonderful thing, especially when the food is chocolate. Pick up a box of truffles or peppermint bark and wrap it to make the gift look more festive.
