![“[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)
At first, it took Sukrit Kalsi (2) two strides to keep up with freshman Emma Doherty’s every step. By the end of their segment, though, they were completely in stride, his hand grasping hers as they walked down the runway.
The audience sighed a collective “awwwwhhh” during the Dare to Party segment of the 2013 Fashion Show on February 22, in which students from the Lower School walked hand-in-hand with their Upper School friends.
“I really liked the walking,” Sukrit said, his head bobbing. “It was fun.”
Freshman Mary Najibi participated in the first fashion show in 2003 as a glamorous kindergartener.
“I don’t really remember my kindergarten self, but now I get to do a lot of fun things in the show,” said Mary, who modeled in the high-energy “Gangnam Style” segment.
Her mother, Tina Najibi, remembers Mary’s first walk.
“Back then, the kindergarteners had to walk all alone! But it’s a great way for the whole Harker community to work together,” she said.
Damon Casatico, who led the live auction, also identified the “community feel” as a uniquely Harker experience.
“I’ve seen some of the students from when they were little to when they graduate out of the show, and I’m totally in love with everything about Harker,” said Casatico, who has conducted the live auction for nine out of the past 10 years.
Performing arts students across campuses also worked together. Downbeat and Lower School singers performed “Just The Way You Are” for the show’s finale.
“It was great because we learned the song individually but were still able to put it together with just a few rehearsals,” Downbeat performer Jeton Gutierrez-Bujari (10) said. “It went a lot better than expected.”
Ten-year-olds and 50-year-olds alike took their bows, and with that, Mission: Possible was 100 percent complete.
