![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
New Year, New Me: students share their fitness and health resolutions for the coming year
Arriving back at home from school, you are presented with two options. You can either hunker down in front of the T.V., watching a re-run of Grey’s Anatomy and gorging on a box of fudge brownies, or you can run two miles in your neighborhood in accordance with the New Year’s resolution you made just three nights earlier. Would you choose the former or the latter? Capitulate to your whims or abide by your resolutions?
Two-thirds of the New Year’s resolutions of adults deal in part with fitness. According to a much-publicized study conducted for Bodybuilding.com, 73 percent of the two-thirds would chose the former, throwing in the towel long before meeting their goal.
New Year’s resolutions are a tradition spanning many centuries; the custom’s roots trace back to Babylonian times. This January of 2015, students have been actively exploring ways to stay in shape and adhere to their fitness and health resolutions.
Sarisha Kurup (10), who recently began practicing yoga, has been replacing chocolate with quinoa and Pinkberry with Pressed Juicery in a bid to be healthier.
“My resolution was to worry more about being healthy rather than trying to look a certain way. I want to try out juice cleanses and try to get myself to eat a little more kale,” Sarisha said. “Always think long-term.”
“You don’t want to wake up one day when you’re 60 and wish you had been fit before. Live your life with the intention of having no regrets.”
— Sarisha Kurup
Sophomore Anahita Far (10) has created an Instagram account dedicated to the art of healthy eating. Through her instagram platform, instagram.com/nourishingana, Anahita endeavors to both showcase her Farmer’s market based creations and educate others.
“My wish for my followers is to [be] inspired and to get up and make something healthy. I want to teach people that the food they put in their bodies should not only taste good, but be good for you as well,” Anahita said.
Her words of wisdom to someone wishing to stick to diet?
“Take it one day at a time, keep your goal in mind.”
— Anahita Far
Varsity girls’ tennis player Maya Valluru (10) enumerated several goals she has for the coming year.
“This year, I am working to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising multiple times a week and making sure I eat three meals each day,” Maya said. “One of my main goals is to build greater stamina as well as speed for the tennis season in fall, so that I [can] reach more short balls and play with my full power throughout matches.
Maya believes that incorporating resolutions into one’s daily routine is the most effectual way to attain goals.
“Make sure you make your fitness resolutions a daily routine that you don’t deviate from. You just have to be strict with yourself.”
— Maya Valluru
Varsity basketball captain Jordan Thompson (10) attributes her successes on the court to her constant workout and practice schedule. Her discipline and work ethic have paid off.
“I think that in order to be successful, you have to work hard and put in the time to practice or else you’re not [going to] get any better,” she said.
“When you’re consistent with your workouts, that’s when you’ll start seeing results.”
— Jordan Thompson
In her free time, Aadi Ghildiyal (9) runs near her house with the intent of living a healthier lifestyle. She ran track in the middle school and is considering joining the upper school track and field team; her workouts also serve the purpose of keeping her shape for track season.
“My goal for this year is to get fit and stay fit. I stay in shape by participating in sports such as cross country and track,” Aadi said.
Her advice to those wishing to get physically fit?
“Start positive and believe. You can do it.”
— Aadi Ghildiyal
Whether it be cutting out those dreaded trans fats or swapping simple carbohydrates with complex, training to gain the stamina to run that marathon for charity, or partaking in indoor cycling classes at your local SoulCycle, 2015 is the time to become inspired and make a change.
Tara Parimi (12) is co-Editor-in-Chief of Harker Aquila, and this is her fourth year on staff. She has been involved with the upper school's journalism...
