![LALC Vice President of External Affairs Raeanne Li (11) explains the International Phonetic Alphabet to attendees. "We decided to have more fun topics this year instead of just talking about the same things every year so our older members can also [enjoy],” Raeanne said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_4627-1200x795.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)
Gravity the movie stuns with digital effects — 4/5stars
October 8, 2013
Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity truly provides a movie experience unlike any other.
Gravity documents the outer-space escapade of Dr. Ryan Stone and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, respectively. During their expedition, the two are caught in a wave of destruction due to fast-moving space debris. The movie follows the two on their quest to stay alive during the 90 minutes before the debris completes its orbit around Earth and impacts them again.
Nothing short of a roller-coaster ride, Gravity delivers the modern sci-fi film promise of stunning visual effects, sending viewers into orbit with its exotic grandeur. The movie explores the frighteningly deep depths of space vicariously through the dreaded human emotions of complete devastation, destruction, and loneliness. Yet, perhaps Cuarón’s greatest feat is capturing space in all its glory and contracting its infinite bounds into something so intimate and relatable.
Viewers can’t help but feel the intensity of each moment or avoid being overcome and consumed by the waves of pure anguish and heartache felt by Stone and Kowalsky as they struggle to survive. Saying the film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats is simply underrating the movie’s thrill factor and ability to accelerate the hearts and breathing rate of its audience.
While the movie lacks extensive character development and background, it certainly compensates for its minimal characterization. The speed at which the movie unfolds amazingly detracts from its minor flaws, hypnotizing viewers with a flurry of seamless digital effects.
Gravity takes viewers as close to being in space as they’ll ever get.
The PG-13 film was released Friday and provides 91 minutes of non-stop thrills and action. Available in 3D and IMAX 3D, the film pulled in over 55 million during its opening weekend according to boxofficemojo.com. It scored a rating of 8.8 on IMDb, 97% on rottentomatoes.com
