![“[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)
The Thought Bubble: Counting Blessings
Here we go, just another conversation between me and my mom:
“I NEED that. Now.”
“No you don’t. And besides, who’s going to pay for it?”
I want something (that is not essential to my livelihood), and she tells me no. Honestly, I usually know when she is going to reject my plea for something I want but don’t really need, but I ask just to appease the little glimmer of hope in me that she’ll tell me yes.
Sometimes, if I continue to ask, my mom or dad will call me out for being unappreciative and taking everything I have for granted. They tell me to think about what I’m complaining about while so many people aren’t nearly as lucky as I am. I suppose being surrounded by some people who seem to have things I don’t makes me want more shiny, new gadgets. And so, I continued to be angry at my parents for not giving me what I want. That’s what my excuse used to be, but since then, it’s been changing to something else.
At late hours in the night (or early hours in the morning), I sit by my laptop and continuously watch Youtube videos to procrastinate from homework or sleep (although I seriously need to sleep). I came across this video, and I was given a big wake up call. In the video, I came across this very important saying: “count your blessings.”
It’s so simple and maybe a little bit cliché, but I don’t think people take enough time to do this; we’re too absorbed in everything that we’re lacking in to take a moment to see what they do have. I think about how I’m so lucky to have a roof over my head, abundant food, all the water I could drink, and a really wonderful education, whereas there are people elsewhere who don’t know where their next meal will come from. They have to fight with their lives just to receive an education.
When I compare my problems to what I’m complaining about, it’s materialistic and petty. I find that I used to compare myself to other people and I looked for what they had and what I was lacking in. I’m not sure what made me do so – maybe it’s in our natures to want more – but I think about how annoying it must be for my parents if anyone else.
Of course, there are still moments when I go back to my previous mindset and covet the materialistic goods unnecessary to my survival, but I often like to go back, rewatch that video, and focus on myself and what I’m lucky to have. I just reroot myself to being appreciative.
Priscilla Pan is the features editor for the Winged Post and co-creator of In a Nutshell. She is a senior and has been part of the journalism program for...