![“[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)
WiSTEM holds club week
WiSTEM club president Anika Mohindra (12) writes a question on a piece of paper in preparation for an interactive bulletin board event outside Manzanita during lunch on Monday. Participants in the activity could write about their favorite scientists and inventions as well as draft kind messages to girls being educated by the WISER program.
November 21, 2015
The Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (WiSTEM) club hosted club week this week, organizing activities to promote awareness of gender disparities in STEM work.
The club’s fundraising proceeds will support the Women’s Institute of Secondary Education & Research (WISER), an organization that provides healthcare and education to girls in rural Kenya.
Club members sold Fantasia pearl milk tea after school on Monday and Thursday, hot chocolate and brownies during Tuesday extra help and cake pops during long lunch on Wednesday. They also hosted an interactive bulletin board on Monday, a photo booth with interviews on Wednesday and a Name the Scientist game on Friday.
Amy Jin (10), an outreach officer for the club, spoke about her experiences with both the club and WiSTEM in general.
“The experience has generally been really great. We talk a lot about the STEM area and also empowering women in STEM and helping internationally as well,” Amy said. “This is really inspiring and a great cause to support.”
Anita Chetty, club founder and co-advisor as well as science department chair, commented on the club’s goals and how they related to its choice of charity.
“We felt that this particular initiative aligned very closely with WiSTEM’s mission, which is to promote, on a local and a global level, the participation of women in education and STEM programs,” Chetty said. “[Our club week’s purpose] is to spotlight issues associated with women, to go beyond Harker and go beyond Silicon Valley and say all of these issues still exist very dramatically for young girls.”
WiSTEM events in the upcoming year include the annual Harker Research Symposium, tutoring with lower and middle school girls at the Rocketship Sí Se Puede Academy in San Jose and STEM Buddies sessions with Harker preschoolers.
In previous years’ club weeks, WiSTEM has supported the American Diabetes Association and the Children’s Club at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Tanzania.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on November 20, 2015.
