![“[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)
Fundraiser slam dunk: B-Ball competition held by Key Club
Freshman Edwards Sheu shoots a basket as the other members of the freshman team look on. The Key Club basketball tournament took place during long lunch on Wednesday, March 6.
A din filled the gym as teams of freshmen, sophomores, and seniors participated in Key Club’s basketball competition. Basketballs smacked against the floor, shouts echoed back and forth, and time ticked away.
The competition was held during long lunch today to raise money for Sunday Friends, a nonprofit that supports low-income families. Team from each class competed to make the greatest number of baskets within a time limit.
A $50 entry fee was required from each class in order to participate; other bonuses, including extra time, were available with additional money. The seniors won the competition after scoring 19 baskets, while the sophomores scored six, and the freshmen three. The juniors, failing to pay the entry fee, were automatically disqualified.
Junior class treasurer Rohith Bhethanabotla explained the two main factors that led to the juniors’ choice to forgo the event. First, all AP US History students were required to attend a lottery during long lunch to choose research topics, meaning that “around 120 of the 180 kids in [the junior class] had to wait” and were forced to miss the basketball event.
Secondly, Rohith was frustrated by Key Club’s rules, which he perceived to be confusing.
“The event times were never clear and the rules vague, so we didn’t even know when we should show up with our teams,” he said. “The whole $50 fee even confused us more. We weren’t sure what we had to do.”
Rohith clarified that while the juniors abstained from the basketball competition, the class “wholeheartedly [supports] Key Club and Sunday Friends” and continues to support the club through other fundraisers.
Although only three of the four classes were involved, Key Club chapter leader Connie Li (11) was pleased by the contributions and thought the fundraiser was very successful.
“We raised a good amount of money [from the competition], more than the required entry fees combined,” she said.
Key Club President Alan Soetikno (12) agreed.
“[The basketball competition] was a good way to raise money,” he said.
Many spectators at the competition enjoyed themselves, regardless of the game’s outcome.
“I had a lot of fun. It’s too bad [the freshmen] didn’t win,” Raghav Jain (9) said.
The basketball event was one element of Key Club’s fundraiser week. Bake sales will continue throughout the rest of the week. The much-anticipated Pinkberry fundraiser will take place during advisory, lunch, and after school, starting tomorrow.