![“[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)
Holi: Celebrations for the festival of colors
Special to The Winged Post
Covered in colored powder, Riya Godbole (10) and Vishal Vaidya (10) pop water balloons on each other at a Holi festival.
Red, blue, orange, green. Heaps of colors fly here and there as families and friends gather in celebration for the annual Indian Holi Festival.
As springtime rolls around, multiple Holi festivals throughout the Bay Area begin to take place. The official date of the holiday is March 27, though certain celebrations take place at later dates, such as the Stanford festival on April 6 and 7.
“Just seeing the majestic colors fly across and strike people’s faces so elegantly. It’s honestly a very exciting holiday where family and friend bonding occurs naturally,” Shikhar Dixit (10) said. “I think everyone should experience the fun and spiritual times of Holi, the great festival of colors.”
The Holi celebration, an annual tradition passed on through generations, signifies the arrival of spring and feelings of friendship and reunion. Though the holiday itself has roots in Hindu mythology, Holi has become much more modernized throughout the years.
“I’ve celebrated it both in India and here. In India, it’s crazy. People throwa water balloons at each other (and even at strangers) from the rooftops. Almost everyone is involved and random people squirt water at each other or throw colors around,” Sarina Vij (12) said. “Here, you usually do it within smaller communities, but something like Stanford Holi is awesome because it brings a larger community together.”
Students have already begun preparing for the festival, planning out where and when they will celebrate.
“I’ve gone and celebrated only once before at RANA Holi with my friends. This year I’m planning to go to Stanford Holi,” Dhanush Madabusi (9) said.
Though traditionally a Hindu celebration, Holi engages students of other various races, whether to support their fellow peers or merely to have a fun time experiencing the customs of another culture.
“I like learning about the culture of most of my friends and a majority of the school’s population, and it’s a really fun way to do so,” Vivian Isenberg (10) said.
Although some students chose to abstain from the celebration and colorful games due to conflicting dates or simply by personal preference, the festival still continues to grow in popularity.
“I enjoy celebrating Holi because I find it fun to throw colors around,” Krish Sanghi (11) said. “Celebrating does not necessarily have to be for a religious cause. Those who don’t normally participate in the celebration should go out to events such as Stanford Holi and enjoy the fun of throwing color.”
As the end of March approaches and April nears, more details regarding the various Holi festivals will be announced.
This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on March 29, 2013
Mariam Sulakian is the Features Editor of Harker Aquila. She has been a member of the journalism program for four years and appreciates the opportunities...