![“[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)
With the approach of Halloween and its haunting traditions, comes a custom that most of us have known since our childhood: pumpkin carving.
According to History.com, this practice traces back to the Irish legend of “Stingy Jack and the Devil.” After taunting the Devil, Jack was prevented from entering both the gates of Heaven and Hell after his demise on Halloween. He was left roaming the Earth as a dead soul, carrying a radiant piece of coal in a turnip to light his way. Ever since, carving and lighting hollowed fruits, usually pumpkins, has become a tradition on Halloween to ward off evil spirits.
Used as accessories and decorations in haunted houses and seen at the doorsteps of homes that welcome trick-or-treaters, these jack-o-lanterns add to the eerie mood of Halloween.
Pumpkin carving, nonetheless, can be a tricky task. Here are some tips to make your pumpkin carving experience easier:
1. When choosing the pumpkin, make sure it is smooth; if it shows signs of mold or bruises, it will not last as long. Flat bottoms are also better for balance.
2. Carve out the top of the pumpkin but do not throw it away. You will eventually use it as a lid. Butter knives work, but kitchen knives with ridges enable more precision with each cut.
3. Using your hands, extract all the pulp and seeds. You can also use a spoon, but it may be harder to scoop all the pumpkin’s contents out.
4. Next, attach a paper template of a Halloween design to the pumpkin. You can find some creative designs in the Halloween section of Ehow.com.
5. Trace the outline of the pattern with a marker.
6. Use the carving knife to slice out the patterns from the design. You may have to go back and trace the pattern with the knife multiple times to cut the entire piece out smoothly. Leave the carved pieces in the pumpkin until you are done cutting every piece.
7. Finally, light a candle and place it inside the pumpkin. Cover the pumpkin with the lid you carved out. Voila, the jack-o-lantern is ready for Halloween.
