![“[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)
There are countless reasons to participate in community service projects including the joy of helping others. With the deadline to turn in service hours quickly approaching, here are some ideas to get those final hours.
Princess Project: Every year, the Princess Project collects new and used dresses as well as accessories of all colors and sizes. The dresses are distributed to girls who otherwise would not be able to afford one in time for prom season. Volunteers get the opportunity to sort dresses and organize accessories to give them out. For more information visit http://princessproject.org.
Second Harvest Food Bank: Hunger is a year round problem, not just during the holiday seasons. According to its website, 10% of the Silicon Valley Population cannot afford food, and Second Harvest Food Bank does as much as it can to help many hungry people. Volunteers will sort the food that the organization has collected from donations. For more information visit http://www.shfb.org.
Operation Care and Comfort: On average, 600,000 pounds of supplies are shipped out to American Troops on foreign soil every hour thanks to efforts by Operation Care and Comfort. The organization package and ship basic supplies such as toothbrushes, combs, and razors. Volunteers participate in an assembly line packing boxes as well as writing optional thank you notes to the men and women who serve our country. For more information see http://www.occ-usa.org.
Acterra: The goal of this organization is to work towards a healthier planet through numerous programs including creek habitat restoration, invasive species control, and cultivation of native species. With frequent events, it is easy to perform service hours even with a busy schedule. This is the perfect event for students who enjoy spending time outdoors. For more information see http://www.acterra.org.
RAFT: Due to the poor economy, public schools are experiencing budget cuts. Resource Area for Teaching boxes supplies for teachers and schools in the area with help from student volunteers. Additionally, it provides other services including after school programs for kids. For more information see http://www.raft.net.
For more ideas, there is a Community Service Board that features upcoming events, located on the right in the entrance to Manzanita.
