![“[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)
What was once a dilapidated kitchen storage space and a snack bar at different points in time has been transformed into a room filled with “Harker swag,” as the Eagle Express student store enters its first week of sales.
The store, situated in the middle of the Edge, had its grand opening on February 1 and currently carries apparel such as sweatshirts, water bottles, and stationary.
“I like the sweatshirts mostly. They’re really cozy and warm, and they also have the Harker logo on it so I can show off my school pride,” Delaney Martin (10) said.
Sweatshirts are one of the most popular items at the store, which carries a variety of different designs and materials with variations on the Harker logo. Walking into the store, Kunal Mehta (9) liked a green sweatshirt enough to purchase one.
“Well, my friend got [the sweatshirt], I saw him with it, and it looked really nice. It’s also by Nike,” Kunal said, explaining the reasons for his purchase.
Similar to Delaney, he finds it important that the Harker logo is on the item to promote school spirit, another reason for the sweatshirts’ popularity.
Other students do not see themselves visiting the store anytime soon. Additionally, many students are completely unaware of the store’s existence.
“I don’t really care about it. It’s ok, but I’m not actually going to buy stuff from it. I don’t think [the products] are worthwhile to spend money on,” Elina Sendonaris (9) said.
To many potential customers, cost is a paramount factor. Sophomore Elizabeth Bettencourt appreciates the Eagle Express for discounts it offers to customers. The store’s clearance rack offers older items from $5 and up, a fraction of the $40 to $60 cost of the store’s new sweatshirts.
“The items they have on clearance are cheaper than the original price, which is a little much,” Elizabeth said.
According to Sahithya Prakash (11) who heads the Eagle Express with David Lindars (12), sales have been high. She estimates that in just the first two days of its opening, the store has gained more than $350 in raw sales.
“On Friday, this senior wanted to buy a lot for his team, so he bought $200 worth. That was a really good indication of how much people wanted this store to open up,” Sahithya said.
The Eagle Express was conceived by the Student Council, and the store’s name was chosen in a naming competition earlier in the school year. Members of the online bookstore, staff members, and Dean of Students Kevin Williamson provide support and help take inventory, while the store is staffed completely by students.
The Eagle Express is not the first student accessible convenience store on the Upper School campus. The student bookstore, while it had a physical presence on campus, carried some sweatshirts and stationary in its inventory until it moved completely online in 2012. By contrast, the new store does not carry textbooks, instead focusing exclusively on student convenience items branded in its advertising campaign as “Harker Swag.”
The Eagle Express is open Tuesday and Thursday after school as well as during long lunch on Wednesdays.
