![“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)
![“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)
![“[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)
![“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 wasn't 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)
Read it Or Weep: Sweet Sixteen and Petrified
An alarm clock beep, both feet planted on the ground, and an unruly bedhead: “Good morning. It’s my birthday.” And just like that, I’m inaugurated into the adolescent secret society known as “sixteen year-olds.”
This is supposed to be it- my year, some ennui filled with angst in a hairspray can, contents mingling with some revelation to offer insight to my existential crises. I don’t know if I was expecting Jake Ryan to pull up to my nonexistent perfect older sister’s wedding (clichéd but totally guilty pleasure-worthy 80’s movie Sixteen Candles,) but all I needed was a bang! A sizzle? A pop? No exclamation marks necessary?
I’ll be honest- I’m a cynic at heart. I’m 80% sure that cold sarcasm runs through my veins. I’m not a fan of birthdays; the idea of turning one year older is just another year to me. Presents aside, I tend to have the worst kinds of birthdays, and lowering my expectations is always the answer to a better birthday.
But still, sixteen? Isn’t that supposed to mean something?
The idea of turning sixteen sounds wonderful, if you’re an optimist. Now, if you’re a chronic worrier with a fancy for worst-case scenarios like I am, you’d be just as terrified.
Blame it on my childhood obsession with Peter Pan, but I’m just a girl terrified, and somehow simultaneously exhilarated by the idea of growing up. The wonder and intimidation of the adulthood uncertainty, AKA finding the right college, actually getting into college, finding a job, being happy, falling in love, etc, etc. has induced many-a existential crises.
Newly minted sixteen years under the belt, a survival skepticism strapped to the ankle, and a general apprehensive fear: Not a good mix. The year when everything will change- romance! Red cup parties! Indestructible friendships. “Everything will change”–that frightens me. The only change I’d like is to not be afraid of starting the rest of my life.
Falling backwards into the unknown with both feet tied and a blindfold could easily be used to describe the whirlwind experience of the high school experience. One day, we’re just beginning, ghosts in unfamiliar hallways. The next, we’re veterans, pitching ourselves to universities and planning out the rest of our lives.
It’s natural to feel as terrified as I am, I know this. Still, it’s even less natural to fail to recognize the excitement of having the world at our fingertips. The world is sugar, we can stick out our tongues and taste it. So don’t fight the fear, just take a deep breath. Blow out your birthday candles, and laugh with your friends. Let the adrenaline kick in, and enjoy the fall.
Kaity Gee (12) is the assistant Editor in Chief of Wingspan. Serving as a reporter for TALONWP freshman year, Kaity has written pieces for Winged Post...