![“[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)
Green Team to elect all-new leadership staff for next year
Green Team faculty advisor Diana Moss informs the assembled students about the leadership application process. The Green Team will elect all-new leadership after all of its previous officers graduated.
The Green Team released leadership application forms to students today at a meeting in Spanish teacher and Class of 2015 dean Diana Moss’ room. The club will elect new officers since all of its previous leadership graduated.
“Well, I think it’s always good to have a new group of people with new ideas, a new perspective,” Green Team advisor and science teacher Dr. Katherine Schafer said. “I think sometimes people that have been in a club for a long time or have been involved in something for a long time feel like [the club] has to be the way it’s always been, so I think if you’re coming in with a new perspective, you aren’t carrying that baggage with you.”
For next year’s leadership positions, Green Team faculty advisors Moss, Dr. Schafer, and environmental science teacher Jeff Sutton are looking for a president and secretary for the club but are also open to other potential positions.
The Green Team, formerly known as the BOSS club, serves as the student connection to the Green Committee, a faculty-only organization introduced in the 2012-2013 school year that attempts to encourage conservation through all four school campuses. The Green Team works to promote sustainability and environmental awareness on the upper school campus.
Last year, the club implemented several projects in the community, the most notable being the “wet” and “dry” trash system, which sought to preserve compostable materials and is still in place on all campuses. Other initiatives include the removal of plastic cups for water and posters around campus discouraging the unnecessary idling of cars in loading zones.
“[Some] joined this year to try to do hydroponics,” Sutton said as he described past projects, namely an initiative to grow plants without the use of soil. “I think we’ve always sold stainless steel water bottles.”
Juniors, sophomores and freshmen attended the information meeting at the beginning of lunch today to learn about the application process and propose any other positions to be added to next year’s officer team.
“I decided to join the Green Team this year because I think that though a lot of people know our environment is important, they kind of see it as something like environmental decay or whatever happening in the far off future when it’s actually nearer than they think it is,” potential Green Team member Joyce Zhao (10) said.
Although the majority of the participants in the club consisted of students from the class of 2015 in previous years, students from different grade levels showed interest today in both leadership positions and general involvement in the club.
“I just hope that instead of just influencing my family to change their ways, I can hopefully influence the school to be more environmentally friendly,” Helen Xie (11) said.
Elections for Green Team leadership positions will take place online before the end of the school year. Students interested in registering or applying for leadership of the Green Team should contact Moss at [email protected].
Kshithija “KJ” Mulam (12) is the Winged Post Editor-in-Chief. Serving as the Winged Post News Editor in her junior year, Winged Post Photo Editor in...