![“[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)
Movies to watch this summer
Special to Harker Aquila
The movie “The Fault in Our Stars” will release this summer on June 6. It stars Shailene Woodley from “Divergent” and Ansel Elgort.
“The Fault in Our Stars”, directed by Josh Boone, releases on June 6, 2014. Rated PG-13, this comedy-drama film stars Ansel Elgort as Augustus and Shailene Woodley as Hazel. Based off of the book, “The Fault in Our Stars” is narrated by Hazel, a 16-year-old cancer patient, whose parents make her join a support group. There, she and 17-year-old ex-basketball player and amputee, Augustus, meet each other and fall in love. The movie tells how the two meet and describes their hardships that arise as they spend more time together.
“How to Train Your Dragon 2” takes place five years after the first movie, “How to Train Your Dragon” and is planned to come out on June 13, 2014. In the PG-rated movie, the main characters, Hiccup and Toothless, challenge each other to dragon races after uniting dragons and vikings together in the first movie. The race takes them through an adventure as they discover new places and realize what they stand for in this comedy, animated movie. Hiccup and Toothless can alter the future of dragons. Some of the main voice actors include Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, and Jonah Hill.
Michael Bay directs the film “Transformers: Age of Extinction”, the fourth of the Transformers movie series. Scheduled to release on June 27, 2014, this sci-fi, action, and adventure-packed film takes place four years after the setting of the previous movie, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, in which the city of Chicago is attacked. This movie is currently unrated, and stars Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, and many more actors.
A sequel to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, directed by Matt Reeves, releases on July 11, 2014. Currently unrated, this sci-fi thriller stars Andy Serkis as Caesar. In the movie, genetically evolved apes are growing in number and are pressured by people who survived a virus that was let out a decade before the time the movie takes place. The apes and survivors reach a temporary, peaceful agreement, but the two groups eventually fight against each other in a war for who will rule the planet, either humans or apes.
Trisha Dwivedi (12) is the Managing Editor of Harker Aquila. She was a reporter her freshman year, Business Manager of the Winged Post her sophomore year...