![“[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)
Looking into the season of Lent
Erika Olsen (12) eats a bowl of pasta salad and fruits during lunch. Many students have chosen to make healthier food choices during Lent.
It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of school, drama, relationships and family. Lent remains an annual forty day period of Christian observance, starting this year on Feb. 18 and ending on April 2, with people from all around the world taking the time to step back from their daily lives and devote themselves to service, fasting and prayer.
The time of abstinence commences each year on Ash Wednesday, where resolutions are made for the next forty days, excluding Sundays, and stretches to Easter Sunday.
Over the years, Lent has spread to non-Christians as well, with people from a variety of religious backgrounds deciding to partake in actions that will allow them to express their appreciation of life to God.
Lent today reflects current trends and policies, with some observing the holiday in unconventional ways by deciding to reduce energy consumption to fight global warming for the forty day period instead of solely focusing on renouncing a type of food or habit.
Students at Harker have a diverse range of religious beliefs, yet influence from peers or a desire to spark a change in their persona has led to many individuals taking the decision to observe the season of Lent.
Many students have made the choice to adjust their behavior for this period of time, hoping it will lead to a positive change in their personality.
Others chose to refrain from eating certain types of food in an attempt to make healthier choices.
“I’m giving up Cheetos for Lent so I can be healthier,” Anuja Shah (9) said. “I love Cheetos, but one bag has too many calories.”
While the idea of repenting vices and bad habits has remained prevalent among individuals at Harker, many students do not believe in Lent.
“I do not believe in Lent because I’m not religious,” Kathy Duan (10) said. “If I had friends that wanted to celebrate Lent, I might give it a chance and try it out.”
Whether or not one chooses to observe Lent, the spread of this season to even non-Christians has shown the evolution of this religious observance over the years.
Ria Gandhi (11) is the Aquila Features Editor. This is her third year on staff after being the Assistant Sports Editor in her sophomore year and a reporter...