![“[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)
Tips to fresh-looking eyes
Eating healthily is an effective way to keep under-eye circles from appearing. Other methods include sleeping well and de-stressing
As the school year progresses, school work becomes more intense and under eyes become darker. Don’t fret; these tips will keep your eyes looking fresh and rested.
Sleep enough: Yes, you’ll hear this everywhere, but sleep is extremely important, not only for beauty purposes, but also for basic cognitive skills, and mental and physical health. For best results, sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated by a pillow. This position will help improve blood flow and decrease the appearance of dark circles.
Eat your veggies: Though salad might not be as appetizing as a slice of pizza, a hefty serving of seasonal vegetables and fruits leaves good results. Some vitamins that you may be missing in your daily meals that could lead to bags and under eye circles include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, iron, or folic acid.
De-stress: As a student, this might be a bit of a tall order, but excessive amounts of stress not only hurt you emotionally, but also raise your blood pressure and lead to dark circles.
Ice, Ice Baby: Apply a bit of ice to your under eye area right after you wake up. Make sure not to apply the ice directly to the skin because this could be highly dangerous. Instead, make sure to wrap it in a towel and lift the ice every few seconds. The ice touching the semi-transparent skin of your under eyes assists blood flow in the capillaries. This removes any extra blood or fluid.
Drink plenty of water: Water is magic, and dehydration can cause the blood vessels under your eyes to dilate and thus lead to dark circles. Try and drink at least eight cups of water a day- your body will thank you for it.
Remove your makeup: Every night, before sleeping, make sure to remove your makeup. Leaving makeup on your skin leads to clogged pores that not only cause dark circles and puffiness, but also lead to breakouts. The best way to avoid this is to wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser at night.
If you need a quick fix to your dark circle problem, makeup can be a life saver. In a few simple steps, your dark circles will be no more. Please use caution when applying new cosmetic products as they could cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
Apply primer: Applying a thin layer of primer keeps the concealer from smudging throughout the day. Pick a primer close to your skin tone, or simply use one that is clear.
Concealer: Use a concealer a shade than your natural skin tone. Apply three small dots on your dark circles and pat the concealer until it is evenly spread. Do not smudge the concealer; instead, dab it carefully with your finger or a concealer brush.
Powder: Powder is not a necessary step, but the application of powder helps keep the concealer used from creasing over the course of the day.
Melina Nakos (12) is a reporter for The Winged Post. This is her third year as a part of the journalism program. She loves to spend time with the rest...