![“[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)
10 must-have smartphone apps
Two students check out their smartphone apps together. Snapchat is the top must-have app.
With the ever-expanding range of applications available to smartphone users, picking the right ones to download can be difficult. In hopes of helping you decide how to make the best use of your money and the limited storage space on your phone, Harker Aquila has narrowed down the list of free, must-have apps to these ten. They are listed in order of necessity.
1. Snapchat is an app that allows users to send pictures or videos to a contact for up to ten seconds. After the receiver opens a “snap,” it automatically self-destructs; however, using the replay feature, you can review one snap per day. The easy-to-use interface includes the option to draw or write text on any snap. The last update incorporated a limited number of filters and made a larger text size available. Snapchat recently added a “My Story” feature within the app that allows you to make any number of snaps public for twenty-four hours. This means that anybody on your approved list of contacts can view a snap an unlimited number of times for one day before it disappears. Snapchat allows you to informally send pictures or videos of yourself, your friends, food, places you visit, and anything else.
2. Facebook is an on-the-go tool for replying to messages, uploading photos or videos, checking notifications, and scrolling through your newsfeed. Rather than struggling to navigate the website via a web browser on your phone, save time by downloading the Facebook app.
3. QuizUp is the fastest growing trivia game on the market. It offers users the opportunity to challenge strangers or friends in games that are at most one minute long. Points are awarded based on accuracy and speed. QuizUp boasts over seven million users and and tens of thousands of questions relating to various topics such as movies, sports, art, nature, and history, among others. Users can interact with each other via a messaging system and can earn unique achievements by completing various tasks such as achieving a perfect score or playing 100 games. QuizUp is the only app in this list that is currently available only on iPhones.
4. Instagram is another social networking site in which users post images that others can “like” and comment on. It includes a range of filters and other photo editing tools to help enhance images. Using the video feature, you can post up to 15 seconds of footage. Accounts can be made public or private based on your desire to share photos. “Instagram Direct” is a recent in-app addition that allows users to privately send media messages to their followers.
5. YouTube is a handy app for those who use the website often. It provides easy access to millions of videos available to the public. The app’s interface is clean and simple to navigate.
6. Candy Crush Saga is a simple yet addicting game in which players mix and match sweets in combinations of three or more in order to gain points and bonuses. The game features over four hundred levels of candy-crushing excitement. Players have a limited number of moves to complete each level and must reach a certain score to advance farther in the game. Although it is easy to learn, Candy Crush requires a certain level of skill and takes time to master.
8. Nike Training Club helps users set and reach fitness goals with the aid of 30 to 45 minute workout sessions. Users can create a monthly plan and set their own pace for getting into shape. During workouts, visual and audio cues in the app demonstrate the correct execution for each exercise.
8. New York Times provides access to major news stories across the globe. Optional push notifications inform users about important stories on a timely basis. The app helps people stay up-to-date on news in an efficient and unintrusive manner.
9. Google Search is convenient for those who are full of questions that can only be answered by the Internet. With one tap, users can gain access to an endless pool of information available to them. The app also provides useful information regarding local weather and traffic conditions.
10. Starbucks is perfect for coffee-lovers who frequent the store. The app allows users to manage gift cards, find nearby stores, save favorite drinks, and more. Users gain one star with every purchase, and rewards can be earned by using the app often. Free refills are one of the perks for users, along with free drinks for every twelve stars and for birthdays.
Natasha Mayor is a reporter for Harker Aquila and the TALON Yearbook. She is a sophomore and has been part of the journalism program since freshman year....
Win naing • Nov 27, 2020 at 6:24 pm
Fine