![“[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)
What (not) to get your significant other for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is one of the few days of the year that you are socially mandated to buy your significant other a gift, preferably an expensive and/or romantic one. But thinking of a thoughtful present on your own takes time and effort, and so we of the Winged Post have provided a comprehensive list of what not to give on Valentine’s Day.
Terrible gift: Half-eaten chocolate. By giving your significant other a box of half-eaten candy, you are essentially saying “I’m a boring person who lacks self-control.” When giving gifts, there are two schools of thought you can subscribe to. You can a) impress your significant other with your sensitivity by giving a meaningful gift or b) shower your significant other in cash to make up for your lack of creativity. Chocolates, a cheap and cliched gift, fail in both categories.
Alternative: Literally any uneaten food item (cake pop, pizza, cheese stick, fruit bouquet, etc.) If it’s really that hard to suppress your appetite, buy two.
Terrible gift: Cut flowers. Cut flowers may seem pretty, spontaneous and romantic, but they telegraph the end of your relationship. At first everything will be rosy, but as the days wear on, your love will begin to wilt and shrivel away. Before you know it, the person you used to think was beautiful and romantic is little more than a withered up version of their former self, and you wonder why you ever bothered taking them off the doorstep in the first place.
Alternative: A potted rose, or a cactus if your significant other is low-maintenance and afraid of committing to the time and effort a rose requires. Like an intrepid plant with strong roots, your relationship can go the distance!
Terrible gift: Hug/Kiss Coupons. If you and your significant other can’t exchange affection without monetary compensation, there’s something wrong with your relationship that no Valentine’s Day gift can fix.
Alternative: Give your significant other a hug on a regular basis without being asked. Sometimes, it’s the little gestures that mean the most.
Terrible gift: Matching T-shirts. Nothing says, “I’m incredibly annoying and I want you to be incredibly annoying with me” like matching relationship-themed T-shirts. There are only two possible outcomes here: a) You and your significant other will rejoice in your mutual cheesiness and skip through local malls eliciting the eyerolls and groans of everyone in a 10-foot radius or b) Your significant other will balk at your clear lack of taste and dump you on the spot.
Alternative: A scarf for girls or a belt for guys. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with either of those, no matter how questionable your fashion sense is.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on Jan. 28.
Meilan Steimle (12) is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Winged Post. She was a reporter her freshman year, Winged Post Opinion Editor her sophomore year and Winged...