![“[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)
Summer music festivals
Vans Warped Tour is a summer staple in the Bay Area. The concert has taken place at Shoreline Amphitheater the past two years.
BFD
Headliners:
Foster the People
M.I.A
Fitz and The Tantrums
Phantogram
New Politics
When: June 1st
Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
Hosted by 105.3, an alternative radio station in the Bay Area, BFD is a great one-day festival for those looking to experience a variety of tunes. The acts are spaced out throughout the day and are located at different stages. Attendees can enjoy headliners, lesser known acts, and a number of local bands from San Francisco and Oakland which play at a separate stage. The festival also features an autograph booth, allowing fans to get up close and personal with their favorite artists at scheduled times for signings.
Warped Tour
Headliners:
All Time Low
Bowling for Soup
The Maine
We the Kings
3OH!3
Breathe Carolina
The Summer Set
When: June 21st
Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
A summer staple since the festival began in 1995, Vans Warped Tour makes stops all over the US and brings together artists from a multitude of genres. Everything from indie to rock to metal bands play this festival, offering up a variety of music for guests to enjoy. The festival also has its own iPhone app to help attendees keep track of showtimes of the 59 artists playing to ensure no one misses their favorite band.
Outside Lands
Headliners:
Friday
Kanye
Arctic Monkeys
Saturday
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Sunday
The Killers
Tiesto
Death Cab for Cutie
When: August 8-10
Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
One of the biggest music festivals in Northern California, Outside Lands is a three-day event in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The venue allows concert-goers a city experience before entering the wooded park which features four stages. Each day, new artists take the stage giving attendees the dilemma of deciding what days to choose and which artists to watch. However, this festival isn’t just about the music. Concessions are unique, as many local eateries cater the event with an abundance of gourmet food. Even though Outside Lands takes place during the summer, a tip is to make sure to bring at least a light jacket because of San Francisco’s classic foggy weather. Parking is also extremely limited around the park, so it is important to consider purchasing an additional shuttle pass or using public transportation.
Vivian Isenberg, a senior, is the Humor & Satire editor on Harker Aquila. She was a member of the yearbook staff her freshman year and has been on...
Juhi Gupta is the Multimedia Editor for Harker Aquila. She is a junior and has been part of the journalism program since her freshman year. Her position...