![“[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)
Album Review: “EXODUS” by EXO
K-pop boy band EXO released its second album titled “EXODUS” on March 30.
After its release, “EXODUS” claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s World Albums chart. EXO has set a record for the largest sales week of a K-pop album in America, landing the 10-member group the 70th spot on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart.
Throughout the 10-track album, the music varies from ballad to pop and R&B with each song following the plotline of two lovers.
The first track of the album, “Call Me Baby,” is an R&B piece inspired by the sound of upbeat ‘90s music. The bass line and guitar further highlight the unique melody and help to give off a funky vibe. The song itself is about falling in love and how the protagonist’s life completely changes after meeting a girl. Although not having a large change in lyrics from the chorus to the bridge, the harmonies that appear later prevent the song from being one-dimensional.
Despite having a slower tempo, the next few ballad-like tracks keep the attention of the listener with the interesting story behind each song. Of these pieces, “What If…” and “My Answer” are the most memorable due to the emotions expressed behind the lyrics. In “What If…” the boys sing about their troubles of still being in love with their former partner who has already moved on, while “My Answer” is a confession to their lover, where they sing “you are my everything.”
The next songs are upbeat and similar to the band’s first song. However, these tracks cause the listener to lose interest, as each melody seems similar in rhythm and beat.
Despite the previous dull pieces, “El Dorado,” one of the last tracks on the album, recaptures the attention of listeners. Previously performed in the group’s performance at their EXO’luXion concert, many fans have been anticipating a studio release of the song. Because of its catchy whimsical vibe and hard drumbeat, this song is known as one of the more popular tracks of “EXODUS.” The message of the song also encourages the listener to follow his or her dreams and to chase an unknown future.
“EXODUS” entices a large audience with its catchy melodies and relatable lyrics. EXO performed on SBS MTV’s “The Show” on April 27 at 4 a.m.
Gloria Guo is a junior and Academics Editor for TALON Yearbook. This is Gloria's third year on staff. In her free time, Gloria enjoys running and listening...