![“I wasn't discouraged by some of the obstacles we faced. I learned a lot from the leadership. I found that different people need different ways of receiving feedback — you can't [just] tell them to do something and expect the best. [Some] people needed more incentive. A large part of my role was to figure out what worked for everyone and to figure out how to lead all these separate individuals as a team,” Suhana Bhandare (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SuhanaBhandare_JasmineHansra-1-1200x798.jpg)
![“This is actually from Randy Pausch Randy P. Brick: ‘Walls are there for a reason. You have to show how much you want to overcome them.’ You have to show how much you want something. That's what I've always been able to do with tennis, Link Crew and getting that internship [with Kushy Baby]. It’s important pushing through that — getting around that brick wall, climbing over it or clawing through it,” Yash Sachdeva (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YashSachdeva_RamBatchu-copy-1200x1002.jpg)
![“[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)
As finals’ week progresses for Upper School students, the stress level continues to grow. Here are some ways you can reduce stress.
1. Make a List: Making to-do lists can greatly relieve stress when you are on studying mode. At the beginning of the day, try listing out everything you want to get done. Lists will not only help you remember everything you need to accomplish, but will also help you stay organized and efficient. As you finish each task, cross it out. This can act as a motivator to work, while also allowing you to feel productive.
Tip: Keep your to-do tasks short and sweet. For example, instead of writing down “review history,” write “read history chapter 23” and “redo history test.” You will be able to cross more out, thus leading you to feel more accomplished.
2. Go Outside: Surprisingly, studying outside can relieve a lot of stress from your mind. So, take your books out to a shady spot in your backyard and spend a couple of hours studying. According to an article on Huffington Post, it has been shown that spending time outdoors can improve your memory and attention span, while alleviating stress at the same time. If you can’t study outside, at least try to spend a little bit of time with nature, whether its walking your dog or playing with your sibling.
3. Stick to the Subject: When you are studying chemistry, study chemistry. Although multitasking may seem like it will increase productivity, it actually slows you down a lot. Single-tasking is much more efficient and effective when trying to study an entire semester worth of information. Therefore, you will be able to get more done, and your stress level will decrease dramatically.
4. Study with a Partner: When you have worn yourself out with studying, but you are not ready for a break, try studying with a partner! Video chatting is often a great way to interact with others over the internet. Teach each other, ask questions, and quiz one another. You will be able to study while having fun at the same time. However, if this will detract from your productivity level, be sure not to video chat for too long.
5. Food for Thought: As we have probably all figured out at one point in our lives, food reduces stress. It’s a fact. However, it is important to pick the right types of “study foods,” so be sure not to resort to a bag of chips. Instead try blueberries, nuts, milk, oranges, or tea. All of these have been found to alleviate stress if you are anxious. However, if you’re not up for these tasty treats, chew gum while studying. It will help you stay concentrated and focused.
