![“[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)
Healthy Afterschool Snacks
You know that feeling when you come home from school, rush to the fridge and have no idea what to eat? Here are three healthy after-school snacks to help resolve that daily dilemma without resorting to junk foods.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
This snack will provide the energy to push through and complete homework, as bananas contain carbohydrates and potassium. Strawberries help with eyesight which is definitely beneficial with eyes constantly glued to a screen. Milk will give the needed calcium for strong bones to achieve proper posture when sitting at a desk. Making a smoothie like this, without the addition of ice cream as in many smoothies, will result in a healthier, yet still delicious version of the popular beverage.
Ingredients:
1. ½ banana
2. 3 strawberries
3. ½ cup of milk
Procedure:
1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender.
2. Blend until the consistency is smooth without any fruit chunks.
Enjoy your smoothie!
Parfait
With this parfait the strawberries will provide a source of healthy eyesight and discussed before, and the blueberries, the fruit with the most antioxidants, will keep the immune system healthy. Granola contains fiber which will help with digestion and yogurt is not only an excellent source of calcium, but also helps one feel fuller.
Ingredients:
1. Fruit yogurt
2. Selection of fruits (berries recommended)
Granola
Procedure:
1. Place the yogurt in a bowl.
2. Place the granola on top of the yogurt.
3. Sprinkle your fruit on top.
Enjoy your parfait!
Cracker, Cheese, & Fruit Combo
In this cracker, cheese, and fruit combo, many of the food groups are covered to create a healthy snack. The fruits provided antioxidants and help with eyesight as discussed before. The cheese provides calcium, which helps with posture and cavity protection. Cheese also contains some protein, which helps in the maintenance of a strong, healthy body. The crackers are a source of carbohydrates for a source of energy.
Ingredients:
1. Crackers
2. Cheese
3. Selection of fruits
Procedure:
1. Spread the cheese on the crackers.
2. Place the fruit on the crackers.
Enjoy your cracker, cheese, and fruit combo!
Alexis Gauba is a reporter for The Winged Post. She is a freshman, and it is her first year on the staff. Alexis is on the varsity girls golf team and...