![“[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)
Students and faculty members have signed a poster copy of the school’s honor code, an idea originated at a Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE) convention Honor Council members attended February.
The posters that the students and faculty signed are to be hung in each of the respective class meeting locations: the gym, the Nichols’ Hall Atrium, Shah Hall, and the Nichols’ Hall Auditorium.
“It makes it more binding because you are actually signing it,” Sonya Shekhar (11) said. “When you’re signing it, you’re thinking about what the honor code is, and it makes it more important to you.”
CSEE holds an annual conference for independent schools on implementing honor systems. In February, Christine Chien (12), Frederic Enea (11), Priyanka Mody (11), and faculty advisor Dr. Pauline Paskali traveled to Flint Hill High School in Oakton, Virginia for the 2010 conference.
In order to promote academic integrity, the Honor Council at Flint Hill High School had posted a large copy of the honor code signed by the student body at the main entrance to the school.
“When you walk into the school, you see the giant honor code there,” Christine said. “It shows what the school stands for, and that honor plays an important role at that school.”
Since returning from the February conference, Honor Council had been planning a way to implement the same concept at the Upper School to create awareness about the importance of the honor code.
“The idea was to have this [as a] reminder of what we pledge.” Paskali said. “It’s just a reminder that we believe in the principles of the honor code because it’s easy to forget when you’re stressed … it’s easy to take what might seem like the easy way out.”
However, many students believe that the posters will not be helpful because, according to Andre Tran (10), “we just signed another piece of paper.”
“It’s a good idea, but I don’t really know how often we’re going to see it. Once you walk by it a couple times it becomes normal,” Maverick McNealy (10) said. “You expect to see it there, so it doesn’t really stand out as much as I think it was intended to.”
The Honor Council is now preparing the 2011 CSEE honor systems conference that will be held at the Upper School campus this February.
