![“[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 Gift Guide
The time of year for giving is rapidly approaching and Thanksgiving marks the beginning. If you’re feeling generous, why not give gifts to your friends and family? Here are some tips and ideas to get you started.
For young children, books are a great gift, and there are so many children’s books that pertain to Thanksgiving. “The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings” would be a good option, as the TV show is very popular among young children. In addition, “Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving,” a book by James Dean, who has illustrated for many New York Times best-selling books, is a wonderful choice.
Teenagers love going to the movies. Now that most high school students have a week long break, movie tickets can be just the right gifts to help them unwind and spend time with their friends and family. Also, as the weather gets colder, cozy, comfortable accessories are other viable options to consider. Scarves, hats and gloves are all useful, easy to find and thoughtful presents for both teenage boys and girls.
Prepaid movie tickets will earn you a spot in nearly every teenager’s life. With the number of upcoming movies to be released this holiday season, movie tickets are more than useful.
Besides friends and family, food is the most important part of the Thanksgiving tradition. A cookbook would fit right into the theme of the holiday season, especially for adults who love to cook. Celebrity chef Ina Garten’s latest cookbook, “Make it Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook,” displays easy ways of cooking for parties, which there are certainly an abundance of during this season. A gift option for those who love food but don’t want to cook is a gourmet food gift basket filled with items such as cheese, crackers, cookies, or chocolates. These are available from manufacturers such as Harry & David and Williams-Sonoma.
“The Barefoot Contessa” by Ina Garten is the perfect gift for anyone who loves cooking. The recipient of this gift may even treat you to a meal or two from this cookbook.
Some presents will be well-received regardless of the recipient’s age and can be shared with and enjoyed by family and friends. If you like to cook, try gifting freshly baked cookies, brownies or even seasonal pies. The thoughtfulness of these gifts will shine through. Likewise, while they appear to be for children, board games are an excellent gift because they bring out a fun and competitive spirit among all age groups in addition to providing a way to bond with others. Imagine If, Taboo and Apples to Apples are especially fun. These gifts epitomize the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Board games don’t always have to be boring. When gifted and played with family and friends, games such as Apples to Apples spring to life.
If you really feel generous, consider donating to those who are less fortunate through food drives such as the Second Harvest Food Bank or local soup kitchens.
Maya Kumar (11) is the Features Editor for the Winged Post. This is her third year in Journalism and her favorite part is collaborating with fellow journalism...