![“[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)
When we partnered up and began to pass, I missed the first catch.
I shook it off and tried again, but I missed the second one too. And then the next one, and the one after that. By the end of the day, I was frustrated, sore, and definitely not excited for the upcoming season.
Deciding to play lacrosse this year was way out of my comfort zone. Because my lacrosse experience was limited to about one week of eighth grade PE until this year, I was highly tentative about joining the team. Lacrosse had always been something I told myself I would try, but now that the time had come, I was having second thoughts.
Eventually, with much coercion from my friends, I decided to play. On the first day of practice, I showed up with my stick in hand and a smile on my face. I was ready, and I was going to do this.
When I came to practice, I quickly learned that lacrosse certainly was easier said than done. As the days progressed, however, I was surprised to see that I began to catch more frequently. It wasn’t necessarily something to be proud of, but it was an improvement. And every day, step by step, I kept getting a little better.
So now, over three weeks into the season, I look forward to learning something new in every practice. Am I the best player on the field? By no means. Am I a part of the starting lineup? Definitely not. But do I anticipate getting out on the field and running plays with my team? That one’s for sure.
Even though we don’t frequently go out on a limb and try something risky, oftentimes the results can make our effort worth it. Because I was bold enough to try lacrosse, I have discovered a hobby I see myself pursuing in years to come.
Whether it’s playing a new sport or learning a new language, it is important to do what you want rather than limit yourself to the familiar. Many of us tend to confine ourselves to the expectations of our peers, restricting ourselves from gaining experiences we will regret missing out on in the future.
So pick up that new instrument or take a new stand, because you never know where that one leap of faith may take you.
