![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
STEM buddies visit preschool
Harker WiSTEM, or Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, is an organization that helps further the education of women in the previously mentioned fields of study. STEM Buddies is a program in which members of WiSTEM visit their buddies at the preschool to educate the younger students and have fun.
Freshman Molly Wancewicz says “I haven’t been able to participate in STEM Buddies yet, but it seems like a really great opportunity to get involved with other Harker students. Once a month, WiSTEM goes to the Harker preschool and does math and science related activities.”
The goal of STEM Buddies is to foster growth at a young age, allowing the students to explore topics that interest them. Activities that are fun really capture the interest of the preschoolers and provide a starting point for future development.
In November, the WiSTEM members visited the preschool and “we had a biology/plant science themed event with activities such as corn husk doll-making, seed planting in jewel boxes, and hands-on worm observation using dissection.” In January “we had a chemistry themed event where we helped the kids make glow in the dark slime and crystal gardens. We also had a mini-chem magic show” says junior Allison Kiang, STEM Buddies organizer.
Freshman are also allowed to participate in the program and learn to teach Pre-K students as well. WiSTEM plans to visit once each month and have many things to help their buddies learn. “Having been a STEM Buddy, I can honestly say it is a joy to watch these young, creative children show such interest and passion in STEM. They are extremely intelligent and can grasp concepts quickly.” Neymika Jain (9) says “I was part of the “Paper Pots” workshop during the botany meeting, and these inquisitive students kept asking questions about why each step was necessary and how they could create a useable pot. It truly made my day.”
STEM Buddies is somewhat reminiscent of Eagle Buddies, where high school students are paired with lower school students for three years and visit both campuses to encourage connections in the Harker community.
The next STEM Buddies event will take place in the next quarter.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on March 12, 2014
