![“[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)
Behind the lights: the Hoscar experience
Noa Sasson (9) does a vertical split during her poi performance. Her act won the award for Best Solo Performance.
The air backstage is humid and humming with nervousness. Students cluster together, holding hands, uttering words of encouragement, or just standing alone, trying desperately to calm themselves. As the applause from the previous act subsides, the curtain opens, and the gym fades to silence save the low buzz of the air conditioner. Noa Sasson (9), her face shining with a thin sheen of perspiration, takes a deep breath and walks onstage.
A total of 19 acts performed at the 2014 annual HOSCARS. That means 19 rehearsed performances, 19 groups or individuals taking the stage to brave the audience’s judgement.
“I had to keep saying to myself, ‘just calm down and do it,’” said Noa, who showed the school poi, a type of dance involving swinging weights around the body in circular patterns. “My heart was beating really fast.”
Of the 19 acts shown, only seven were individuals, something that was a daunting prospect for some soloists.
“It was mildly terrifying,” said Naomi Molin (10), who did a hula dance. “It was my first time performing solo.” The edge of her lip quirks up in a half-smile. “That was new.”
The experience was intimidating even for those in groups.
“It was extremely nerve-racking standing there,” said Namrata Vakkalagadda (12), who sang Stars, by Grace Potter, with Kevin Xue (12). “It was first time not performing as part of a group. But once we started, we really got into the song and were able to forget the craziness of the audience.”
For some seniors, nervousness took a back seat to the nostalgia of their last Hoscars.
“I was awestruck when I looked up and saw 100% of the school,” Adithram Rengaramchandram (12) said. He and his friends performed a Bollywood mashup, winning the award for Best Dance Performance. “It felt like a dream.”
“It was an emotional experience for him,” Anika Gupta (12) said from beside him.
“It’s not every day that I get to be onstage with all of my closest friends,” Gaurav Kumar (12) said.
But for younger students, the HOSCARS represented a beginning, not a goodbye.
“I think it really helped me grow,” said Chris Hailey (9), who sang Imagine, by John Lennon, while accompanying himself on the piano.
“It was really scary,” said Noa, who went on to win the award for Best Solo Performance. “But awesome.”
Meilan Steimle (12) is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Winged Post. She was a reporter her freshman year, Winged Post Opinion Editor her sophomore year and Winged...