![“[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)
Graduation and Baccalaureate speakers named
Talon
WORDS OF WISDOM: Kevin Duraiswamy (12) will deliver a speech at the graduation ceremony, while Efrey Noten (12) was selected to address juniors and seniors at Baccalaureate.
The Upper School’s valedictorian for the Class of 2014 will be Kevin Duraiswamy. Chosen by the campus’ Division Head Butch Keller, Kevin will write and deliver a speech during the graduation ceremony held on May 24. The Baccalaureate speaker for the Class of 2014, voted in through a poll on April 29, will be Efrey Noten.
“I’m a little nervous,” Kevin said of his upcoming speech. “Each time someone congratulates me it feels good, but at the same time it adds pressure that people are expecting a good speech. Everyone is listening, like everyone I know and then more people that I don’t know and so in some ways it’s a really nice opportunity to say something meaningful but at the same time it’s also a little bit stressful, because I want to give the best speech that I can.”
Kevin’s speech, lightly edited by Keller, will discuss the various lessons seniors have learned at Harker and the ways that they will be important in their futures.
Kevin also reflected on his time at the Upper School and the most defining experiences he underwent.
“At Harker, there’s so much being offered in terms of classes and extra-curriculars,” he said. “I think that’s probably what’s been most important, being able to take different classes and then find my interests in humanities and classics and become interested in law, too.”
Kevin looks forward to college, planning on majoring in classics and perhaps looking to enter law school afterwards.
Efrey feels that the class’ decision to vote him as Baccalaureate speaker shows the way that he has changed over the course of the year.
“I’m really humbled, because at the beginning of this year I wasn’t nearly as social, and to me this sort of represents how I have become more confident in speaking and being in social settings,” he said.
Efrey’s speech will concern the importance of compassion and awareness in day to day life to reduce the amount of petty frustration experienced by those who settle into a routine.
“I’m really excited to deliver my message,” he said. “I don’t know how receptive people will be, because a lot of people don’t want to show up to baccalaureate, but I’m hoping that I will keep an audience, and people will enjoy what I have to say.”
During high school, Efrey found that one of the most defining experiences was his research project for Synopsys and the Research Symposium.
“It represents purely my interest in science and all that coming together for my senior year, and it represents a combination of all that work,” he said.
In college, Efrey plans on continuing to do scientific research.
This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on May 16, 2014.
Kacey Fang (12) is the Managing Editor for The Winged Post. She has been part of the journalism program since freshman year and served as Features Editor...
Elisabeth Siegel (12) is the editor-in-chief of the Winged Post. This is her fourth year in Journalism, and she especially loves production nights and...