![“[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)
Struck by Lightning strikes the jackpot – 5/5 stars
January 9, 2013
Chris Colfer’s self-written movie Struck by Lightning perfectly captures a teen’s struggle to balance his dysfunctional family, manage the school newspaper, and get accepted into college.
Within the first five minutes of the film, Carson Phillips (Colfer) is struck by a bolt of lightning in his school’s parking lot and killed. In his afterlife, Phillips recounts his experience as a struggling high school student.
From day one, Phillips believes that he is destined for things greater than his life in Clovis, California. He spends the majority of high school working to get accepted into his top choice college, Northwestern University. In attempt to start something new, Phillips blackmails the popular kids in his school and forces them to write for his newly formed Literary Magazine. However, his life takes a turn for the worse when his guidance counselor reveals to him that he was initially accepted into Northwestern University, but later rejected because he did not respond to his acceptance letter.
The most heartbreaking moment of the movie occurs when Phillips visits his grandmother, who has Alzheimers, in attempt to find consolation. His grandmother yells at him because she does not know who he is and wants him to leave. Phillips exits the hospital in tears.
Throughout the movie, Phillips has to deal with his alcoholic mother and estranged father. His mother, Sheryl, is played by Allison Janney, who portrays an infuriatingly clueless mother flawlessly. Phillips’ dad, Neal (Dermot Mulroney), also contributes to the sympathy viewers will feel towards Phillips.
Struck by Lightning is an extremely touching movie that anyone can easily relate to. From start to finish, the film captures all the emotions of a high school student doing everything he can to live a successful life. Anger, disappointment, sadness, and sparkles of happiness scattered throughout the plot make Struck by Lightning one of the most realistic depictions of life in general.
The beginning of the film makes it clear that this movie is not a simply happy one.
“I feel like hard times and sadness become an experience, and hardships are an experience which you learn from,” Colfer said in an online interview with TalonWP and other high school journalists, when asked about his decision to write such a movie.
Struck by Lightning will be released theatrically this week. It is a must-see for high school students and parents alike.
