![“[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)
On October 6, the sophomores visited the Bucknall Campus to meet their third grade Eagle Buddies.
After exchanging letters and introducing themselves to one another in September, the third grade and sophomore “buddies” met each other for the first time. As part of the Eagle Buddies program to promote bonding within the school community, each third grader in the Lower School was matched with one or two sophomores.
For approximately an hour, the students played outdoor games such as scavenger hunts, three-legged races, and other relay races. In one game, participants had to transfer the most amount of water from one bucket to another using a sponge. However, according to Joe Connolly, Dean of Students of the Lower School, the purpose of these games was not to win and gain points, but rather to build relationships with one another.
“It was such a great experience. I loved being with my buddy. He’s especially so cute and has so much energy. Also, the games were really fun and helped us interact with each other, show how our personalities are, and bring us together as a couple,” Simar Mangat (10) said.
After the games, the students had the chance to talk to one another, while sharing cookies and drinks.
“I really liked [the event]. It was good to get to know my buddy because we’ve been communicating through letters. Seeing [my buddy] in person added a whole new dimension to her personality,” Emily Wang (10) said.
Jeffery Draper, who leads the Eagle Buddies program with Carol Zink, thought that the event was “fantastic.”
“Both the sophomores and the third graders were just charged to have a really great time. […] I saw lots of smiles, and I don’t think it could have gone any better,” Draper said.
Many sophomores, including Simar and Sondra Costa, wished that the event had been longer.
“I loved it, but we needed more time to spend with our buddies,” Sondra said.
Before sophomores returned to the Saratoga campus, many third graders gave their buddies a hug and promised to meet again. The next event for the Eagle Buddies program is scheduled on November 12 during the Homecoming game, where buddies will enjoy a pizza party and introduce their families to each other.
![Winged Post Editor-in-Chief Katerina Matta and Managing Editor Young Min were selected as first place winners from a pool of around 2,000 students. “This page [shows] how much we paid attention to detail and how much we pushed ourselves to ensure the best quality that we could,” Young said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_4254-900x1200.jpeg)
