![“[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)
Orchestra to perform in Chicago
Featured violinist Helen Wu (11) performs excerpts from Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Block at the annual Winter Concert on Jan. 18. The orchestra will travel to Chicago over Spring Break, April 5 to 10, to premiere a composition by Jeremy van Buskirk.
The Upper School orchestra will travel to Chicago over Spring Break from April 5 to 10 to premiere a composition by Jeremy van Buskirk.
The group will be the first in high school orchestra history to debut a new piece. They will also be performing other pieces they have been learning and practicing throughout the year.
“It’s this really cool thing. We’re the only high school orchestra premiering a new work by a composer,” bass player Jackelyn Shen (11) said.
While the orchestra is traveling to participate mainly in the concert, they are also scheduled to tour Northwestern University. Also on the itinerary is a rehearsal with Buskirk, a Chicago Symphony concert, and a showing of the musical Million Dollar Quartet at the Apollo Theater.
“The orchestra concert is just an all around good opportunity for all the kids and I know a lot of them have fun on it too so it’s definitely going to be great,” director and conductor Chris Florio said.
Lowerclassmen orchestra members expressed excitement over their first trip with the orchestra.
“Orchestra is always super important to me and I am so excited for this concert,” Melinda Wisdom (9) said. “It’s going to be loads of fun, and we all worked super hard on the pieces so everybody who can should definitely come watch.”
The orchestra trip overlaps with other school events such as the journalism program’s San Diego trip and the Harvard Economics Challenge.
Vasudha Rengarajan is the Editor-in-Chief of Harker Aquila. As former Features editor and Sports editor for Aquila and a reporter for The Winged Post,...