![LALC Vice President of External Affairs Raeanne Li (11) explains the International Phonetic Alphabet to attendees. "We decided to have more fun topics this year instead of just talking about the same things every year so our older members can also [enjoy],” Raeanne said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_4627-1200x795.jpg)
![“[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)
Rapid ropes and rafting
Students embark on class trips for first day of school
Rachel Freed’s advisory prepares to set out on the rapids during the junior class trip.
The sophomores went to a ropes course and the juniors went white water rafting for their annual class trips last Friday.
The point of the trips is to facilitate class and advisory bonding. Sophomores took part in team-bonding activities where their teamwork and communication skills were tested.
The sophomore class was split into four groups with about six advisories in each group. They were all taken to separate locations in Santa Cruz and participated in team bonding activities as well as a ropes course. In the ropes course, students performed various balancing activities on ropes.
Aditi Maheshwari (10) commented about her experience on the trip.
“I definitely think I enjoyed it, because it really forced us to work in a group and to get to know each other better by giving each other a helping hand,” she said. “I’m glad that they didn’t keep it academic because it gives us new insight into Harker life.”
The trip was followed by a barbecue and pool party on campus in the evening.
The junior class traveled over three hours away to the south fork of the American River to worked with O.A.R.S., an outdoor expedition company, to raft down class 1, 2, and 3 rapids.
While some students lamented the long bus ride and the fact that advisories were separated due to small raft size, most felt that the trip was an enjoyable new experience.
“Actually we didn’t go with our advisories per se, I had no one from my advisory in my boat. It was a lot of fun and a little scary and it brought out the securities and insecurities of some people,” junior Sorjo Bannerjee said. “I think it was a really good way to have fun and I think it was a new experience for most people and it was a good bonding time even if you weren’t entirely with your advisory you got closer to some people.”
Junior Brenna Jensen commented on the long bus ride to the rafting site.
“What I’ve heard is that there are closer places to go whitewater rafting like one hour away as opposed to three, so that’s one thing that might be improved,” Brenna said. “I think it was a new experience for most people and it was a good bonding time even if you weren’t entirely with your advisory you got closer to some people.”
Though in past years the class trips took place during the middle of the year, this year, the class trips were the weekend before classes began.
This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on August 29, 2014.
Kavya Ramakrishnan (12) is the managing editor of the Winged Post. This is her fourth year on staff, having previously held the positions of reporter and...
Raveena Kapatkar (12) is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Harker Aquila. She is a senior and this is her fourth year on staff. As a freshman, she was a reporter...