![“[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)
Nikoloff presents first talk in the “Who Are You” series
Head of School Nikoloff addresses students during the first seminar in the “Who Are You?” series, held in the Main conference room at long lunch on Wednesday. The students explored the topics of connections between the body and mind and what consists of “self.”
November 5, 2015
Head of school Christopher Nikoloff presented his first talk in the “Who Are You” philosophical series during long lunch yesterday in the Main conference room at 12:45 p.m.
Every year, Nikoloff conducts a series of seminars revolving around a certain philosophical idea throughout the year. Previous years’ topics have included “The DNA of Thought,” goodness, leadership and truth. This year’s topic was the self and what it truly means to be one.
Nikoloff began with a brief introduction, followed by posing the questions, “What does the self mean?” and “What does it mean to be you?” Topics revolving around the ideas and roles of the mind, spirit and body were also discussed. Many ideas presented during the talk were from The Book (on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are) by Alan Watt.
“The students were really making great contributions,” Nikoloff said. “This is a difficult, heady, and personal topic, so they did great.”
Eighteen students showed up to this session; students receive a certificate if they attend all six lectures.
Alexander Young (9) was a first-time attendee of the upper school seminar; however, he also attended the lectures in the middle school. He mentioned a contrast between this year’s and last year’s topic.
“I think the topic this year is quite interesting as well,” he said. “This year’s topic is based on the self, and I think it provokes more interesting discussion and talk compared to last year’s.”
Megan Swanson (11) found the discussion interesting because the topic had been addressed in one of her classes.
“The idea of self is obscure and impossible to fully understand,” she said. “We’ve been talking about this in AP French class. Our theme is self, quête de soi.”
Apart from students, staff attended the session. Diane Main, Director of Learning, Innovation, and Design at the Upper School and a first time attendee, found the discussion intriguing.
“I’m very interested in this concept of identity,” she said. “These are things I hadn’t really considered. [I]t’s just new ideas, and new ways of thinking about identity, different than what I’ve done before.”
Yesterday’s talk was the first of six upcoming lectures that will be held throughout the year. The next seminar will go deeper into the subject of self and will be held on Dec. 9.
