![“[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)
Thanksgiving Tech Must-Have’s
With Thanksgiving sales starting as early as next week, many tech products are going to be available at discounted rates. Here are five items that you won’t want to miss out on:
Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones:
Love listening to music while doing homework? Be sure to grab a pair of Beats headphones. These noise-cancelling headphones will silence the surrounding environment and allow you to just focus on your music. The latest set of headphones in this family is the Studio Wireless, which is an extension of the company’s flagship studio “over-the-ear” headphones, minus the cord. These headphones begin at $299.99 but are expected to be discounted by around 15-20% during Thanksgiving sales.
Jawbone Wristband Fitness Tracker:
For those of you fitness buffs and diet trackers out there, the Jawbone Up would be a good investment. The Jawbone Up is a wristband device that allows you to track your fitness regimen, food intake and even sleep. The device connects with a smartphone, from which you can view the collected data, and periodically provides updates that can help improve lifestyle. The Jawbone Up comes in a variety of colors, such as blue, black and orange, and starts at $79.99, but is expected to be discounted to around $50 at BestBuy for Black Friday.
Apple iPhone 6
If you are in need of a new phone, the new iPhones seem to be a competitive option. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus feature a new 4.7 and 5.5 inch display, respectively, and higher resolution displays compared to previous iPhones. The phones are more powerful and can now be used to make payments with the recently launched Apply Pay. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus also feature Apple’s newest iOS 8 operating system and come in three colors: gold, silver and space gray. The new iPhones are expected to be discounted during the Thanksgiving sale, with Walmart offering the iPhone 6 16GB model for $179 along with a $75 store gift card.
Nod Ring:
If you want to make a fashion statement and wear something tech-related on your finger, the Nod ring is perfect for you. The Nod device is a black ring that fits on your index finger, much like any other ring, and can be used to control your computer, iPhone or Android device. The Nod ring allows you to play music, move through a presentation slideshow and control your cursor all by moving your index finger around. The device is currently available for pre-order for $149.99.
Many stores, such as Costco and Target, will be releasing their Thanksgiving sales advertisements in the coming days. Be sure to check them out for great tech deals!
Vedant Thyagaraj is the Science & Technology Editor for Harker Aquila. He is currently a senior and has been on staff for the past three years. Vedant...