![“[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)
FEM, Interact, and Key Clubs host bookmark fundraiser
Students gather outside of Manzanita to create bookmarks for the FemInterKey fundraiser. FEM, Interact, and Key clubs joined together to support Students Rebuild’s Literacy Challenge, which donates $2 for every bookmark made.
FEM, Interact, and Key clubs joined together during Wednesday long lunch to host a bookmark-making fundraiser outside of Manzanita for the organization Students Rebuild.
Students had the opportunity to create their own bookmarks using colored paper, markers, scissors, and stickers provided by the clubs. The bookmarks will be sent to Students Rebuild, which hosts fundraising “challenges” to support global causes ranging from female education to clean water.
“We decided to make it a full school event to get more bookmarks,” Key club officer Madison Tomihiro (11) said. “For every bookmark, two dollars gets donated to the organization.”
Interact club found out about Students Rebuild and their bookmark Literacy Challenge through their district Interact page, and the club reached out to Key club and FEM to join forces for the fundraiser. The Literacy Challenge aims to help children in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia gain access to books and other reading material.
“Direct community service has a very limited scope, like around your community, but through fundraising, we can send to people all around the world, whether it’s across the US or across the globe,” Interact club officer Alice Wu (11) said. “It has a much more global impact.”
For Interact club officer-in-training Morgan Douglas (9), the fundraiser was a chance to participate in a schoolwide club event and experience raising money for a cause, even through seemingly small contributions.
“It’s inspiring how just making a bookmark can really help out,” Morgan said.
Unlike other club fundraisers that sold baked goods or handmade items made by club members, the bookmark fundraiser focused on students’ creative contributions in order to raise money for their cause.
“With this [fundraiser], a lot of people can actually participate in it. The people who would be buying things in other fundraisers are actually helping to raise the money, so I think that’s pretty nice,” Kailas Vodrahalli (12) said.
The Students Rebuild Literacy Challenge partners with Save the Children’s Literacy Boost program and the Bezos Family Foundation, which donates money for each bookmark made. The bookmarks will be distributed to schoolchildren, and the funds will go towards stocking Save the Children’s international book banks.
Cindy Liu, Academics Editor for the TALON Yearbook, is a senior and has been on staff for four years. Her favorite part of journalism is being able to...