![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
Journalism students attend convention in Washington D.C.
Nineteen students from the journalism program traveled to Washington D.C. on Wednesday morning to attend the Journalism Education Association or National High School Journalism Convention (JEA/NSPA).
The purpose of the trip, accompanied by advisor Ellen Austin and chaperones Lauri Vaughan and Joshua Martinez, is for students to listen to keynote speakers at seminars and to tour and sightsee the area.
Students believe that this trip will benefit the school newspaper and the online site Harker Aquila by increasing awareness of the program.
“Our presentation will drive traffic to the site, and getting expert critiques and talking to other journalists from other staffs will help us improve what we have,” said Vasudha Rengarajan (12), Co-Editor-In-Chief of Aquila.
Some attendees, such as Maya Kumar (9), eagerly anticipate the convention.
“I’m looking forward to generally understanding more about journalism and the way it is done around the country,” she said.
Other students share the same interest and excitement in learning more about how journalism functions, either within different areas of the country or being able to become a part of an even larger community.
“I am looking forward to learn more and see what other high school journalism students have to offer,” Sanjana Avula (9) said. “My expectations for the trip is many students will have new ideas to offer and the keynote speakers will open our minds more about the journalistic world.”
For Eleanor Xiao (9), this trip is the first time she will be travelling with the journalism program. Aside from going to the JEA/NSPA convention during the four-day-long trip, students plan to tour the Washington Post, visit the Newseum and Smithsonian’s National Zoo, go on a Moonlight Monuments tour and visit the Associated Press Headquarters.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the JEA convention is like, but also just as important, the zoo,” she said.
On the other hand, Tara Parimi (10) hopes to receive more from this trip than just being a part of the convention.
“I’m looking forward to bonding with my fellow journalists on all staffs and I’m hoping to learn from the presenters, teachers and students at the convention,” she said.
Students plan to return home the following Sunday in the evening.
Sharon Yan is a junior and Co-Student Life Editor for TALON Yearbook. This is Sharon's third year on staff. In her free time, Sharon enjoys hanging out...
