![“[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)
Top 10 romantic movies for Valentine’s Day
When the month of February comes around, the classic romantic comedies and chick-flicks revisit the homes of millions. On Valentine’s Day, the following 10 movies will set you into the perfect mood for a romance-filled day.
1. The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks’ best romantic novel tells the beautiful tale of two young adults in love who face numerous challenges in order to protect their relationship. Nick Cassavetes adapts this novel on screen with brilliant actors and breathtaking scenery that makes The Notebook a classic romantic movie.
2. Titanic – Sparks fly aboard “the unsinkable ship” as James Cameron directs the all-time classic movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as two star-crossed lovers who go against the rules of their society to be together.
3. A Walk to Remember – Set in a high school, a young teenage girl is diagnosed with leukemia and is determined to transform the school’s bad boy into her boyfriend.
4. The Last Song – Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth star in this romantic comedy about a modern-day girl who decides to rebel against her parents after their recent divorce. As she tries to cope with her family issues, she meets the love of her life, but the couple soon faces problems that eventually resolve in the end.
5. Beastly – The classic tale of Beauty and the Beast is revisited in a modern city with witches and beasts where two teenagers fall in love with each other amidst all of the chaos around them.
6. (500) Days of Summer – This movie takes a different approach to the classic love story as it follows a man trying to recover from his previous relationship. Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls for Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) who does not believe in true love.
7. Dear John – Another adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks’ novel depicts a war-hero’s journey with complications in his personal life. After John comes back to his hometown from serving in the military, he discovers that the love of his life has married another man.
8. The Vow – Based on a true story, this movie depicts the complicated journey that a couple endures to love one another. After a couple survives a car crash, the man’s wife loses her memory and he attempts to help her remember their relationship.
9. The Lucky One – Nicholas Sparks does not fail to impress audiences around the world with yet another love story about a soldier returning home to find the girl who saved his life. A soldier survives a war by holding on to a picture of a woman, whom he tries to locate after coming home.
10. The Devil Wears Prada – Set in New York City, Anne Hathaway portrays an upcoming journalist who enters the drama-filled world of fashion. After being rejected from several newspaper companies, she decides to work for the editor of a major magazine and gains important life lessons along the way.
Ayushi Gautam (12) is the Managing Editor of Harker Aquila. She has been a part of the journalism program since her freshman year. She was the Social Media...