![“[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)
Creative ways to cover up your class T-shirt
Special to Harker Aquila
Namitha Vellian (11) accessorizes a solid-colored sweater with a multi-hued scarf, achieving an effortlessly fashionable look. In addition to being used as stylish accessories, scarves can also serve to shield you from the disbelieving stares directed at your class T-shirt by faculty and other students.
In the highly, highly unlikely scenario that your class T-shirt contains a Microsoft Paint generated graphic that looks as though it has been constructed with the artist’s eyes closed, here are three creative ways to ensure that no one will ever see it!
1) A well-placed scarf
With the California fall approaching, a scarf can serve as a multifunctional item that both protects you from the harsh 80-degree lows that typify the season, as well as the disbelieving stares directed at your class T-shirt by faculty members and other students (arguably the more painful of the two). For most fashionable results, try to find a scarf color that starkly contrasts with the color of your T-shirt, a style consistent with the popular trend of color blocking. As colors are now encouraged to be paired with any other color, even if the final result is highly unflattering, a contrasting scarf will place you ahead of the curve both in fashion trends and strategic concealment of aesthetically questionable T-shirt designs.
2) The classic Eagle Buddy polo excuse
On Homecoming Rally day, there is perhaps no excuse more prevalent than the “OMG. I brought my Eagle Buddy polo instead of my regular class T-shirt because they’re the same color!!” This clever and “believable” excuse will likely be pardoned with eye rolls and good-natured mockery, rather than a deeper questioning of how exactly you managed to confuse a shirt with a completely different texture, shade, and style with your real class T-shirt.
3) Score a football player’s jersey
A football jersey employed to ingeniously conceal the misguided artwork that is your class T-shirt is the consummate blend between displaying Eagle spirit and saving yourself from perpetual humiliation. Befriend a member of the football team and subtly suggest the idea of wearing his or her jersey on rally day. This is the ideal opportunity to make new friends or strengthen an already affectionate bromance. For optimal concealment, layer one jersey on top of another to prevent any glimpse of the T-shirt design.
(From left to right) Seniors Sheridan Tobin, Zoe Woehrmann, Delaney Martin, Erika Olsen, and Madi Lang-Ree show their support for kicker Alyssa Amick in matching #7 football jerseys.
Riya Godbole is the Lifestyle Editor of The Winged Post. She is a senior and has been part of the journalism program since her freshman year. Her favorite...