![“[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)
“Into the Woods” cast performs in Edinburgh
Courtesy of Marcos Woehrmann
In Scotland, Madi Lang-ree (’15) sits in the spotlight, performing “Into the Woods.” The audience they attracted from the Royal Mile watch her shine.
Edinburgh — the bustling capital of Scotland is where it all took place. Pamphlets gliding from hand to hand, spreading the news of an amazing show. Singers enchanting the ears of a future audience. Spirited shouts arousing curiosity. Taking place 24 hours a day for 25 days in August with over 250 venues, 3000 different shows and performers from over 50 countries. This is where the world’s largest performing arts festival, held every year since 1947, took place. The Fringe Festival.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. The name “fringe” comes from the festival’s exclusive origins. Performers must be nominated through competitions. Nominations are submitted to the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) from local competition finalists or winners. AHSTF recently began requesting nominations from esteemed directors and judges since not all schools have access to the competitions.
Harker nominations come from judges at competitions Top Honors, California Musical Theater Honors programs and the Ohlone College Theater Festival.
Naomi Molin (12), who has taken part in musicals since seventh grade, talked about her favorite parts of the festival.
“You’re always on the go and I love that about it,” Naomi said. “It was one of the best experiences of my life so far. You meet a lot of cool people like other high theater kids from all over America but also just random street performers. It’s incredible.”
This year, 2,500 schools were nominated, out of which 200 applied and 44 were selected to represent AHSTF.
Although invited every year, Harker attends once every four years. They perform that season’s Spring Musical at the festival, which this year was “Into the Woods.” The 43 students from the Harker School arrived in Edinburgh on Aug. 4, staying for a total of two weeks and spending two days in London. The festival started on that Friday.
Harker’s performers, like everyone else at the fringe, promoted their show on a famous street in the city, the Royal Mile.
Shivani Awasthi (11) participated in Harker musicals in seventh, ninth, and 10th grades and enjoyed the large, performing arts-focused environment.
“I actually love the atmosphere [there],” Shivani said. “It was very vibrant. Basically, from what we saw from the fringe, everywhere you go, people are handing you flyers, and we saw a lady singing opera in the streets.”
Shivani Awasthi (11) allures people along the Royal Mile by transforming into an affectionate cow. If anyone desired, she would allow them pet her.
Namrata Vakkalagadda (‘14), went to the Fringe Festival in the summer after her Freshman year. In her high school years, she performed in many Fall Plays and Spring Musicals and also directed her own show. During her freshman year in college, she took part in a rock musical about the life of Andrew Jackson, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” and staged with a student group on campus called All Student Theater in a musical by Mel Brooks called “Young Frankenstein.”
“I really enjoyed going,” Namrata said. “It was just really great to be exposed to all different types of theater. To be able to explore on an international skill was just a really great experience to have and to be able to perform and see other high schools perform as well.”
Jeton Gutierrez-Bujari (‘15) felt the whole trip was laborious, but exhilarating with a sense of family, fun, and excitement. He talked about how their group attracted an audience to go to their show.
“People who attend the fringe get hundreds of these fliers, so we actually gave them a little sack of jelly beans which we called magic beans and that pertained to our show and stuck a little flyer to it,” he said.
The cordial atmosphere along Royal Mile confronted Sameep Mangat (10). She expected to only socialize with her group, but received much more.
“I think just the fact that we’re all performers from different high schools across America is just amazing,” she said. “It was such a welcoming environment. I made some amazing friends during the fringe, and I’m definitely going to keep those friendships.”
The performers huddle up, encouraging each other to give their audience the best performance they can provide. The spotlight awaits for them cast shadows onto the stage floor.
Director the musical “Into the Woods” Laura Lang-Ree planned the entire trip and thought of PR ideas. She received a letter in the year of 2005, saying that the Harker crew has been nominated by the San Jose center for Performing Arts to participate in AHSTF group going to the fringe. To check for justification, she looked it up and ended up encountering the largest arts festival in the world.
“[Attracting an audience is] completely competitive. All of these very, very talented theater dance/music groups come to perform at the fringe and they’re all trying to attract an audience,” she said. “Being able to show something on the Royal Mile to an audience member to entice them to come and see your show is a big part of being at the Fringe Festival.”
The fringe provides a diverse scene, from spray painters to Japanese comedy tap shows to African drum bands to stand up comedies to acrobats to musicals to drag queens to orchestral concerts. The next chance for Harker to revisit this experience again will be in in the year of 2019.
Emma Yu (9) is a reporter for The Winged Post. In her free time, she usually draws, surfs the internet, and hopes for no tests in the upcoming weeks of...