![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)
UBER VS. THE WORLD
As more people switch to Uber, the fight to rule the roads intensifies
November 28, 2015
Yellow cabs and buses are losing their hold on the transportation industry, both internationally and locally. As Uber expands internationally, it also provides a means of transportation for the Harker community.
Uber, a San Francisco-based startup, allows customers to order rides tailored to their schedules through a smartphone app, using crowd-sourced drivers and their cars. Providing approximately 30 million rides per month, Uber attempts to replace the traditional taxi industry and pull ahead of rival companies, such as Lyft. In San Francisco, Uber’s home city, taxi rides per month have dropped by over 65% from March of 2012 to July of 2014.
“I think Uber is very efficient and it’s much better than a taxi,” said Abhinav Joshi (9), who uses Uber services once a week. “Uber is more personal, the drivers are more relaxed, and it is much cheaper.”
For many, Uber’s main selling point is its low rates.
“Their prices are about three fourths or less. If I take a taxi to the airport from where I live, it’s 17 dollars, if I take an uber, it’s eight,” math teacher Jane Keller said. “It is part of our process in the United States. People create businesses, and if you don’t keep up, your business doesn’t keep going.”
Morgan Douglas (10), who uses Uber services twice a month, concurs.
“It’s not that overpriced,” she said. “Usually the people aren’t creepy and they have nice cars.”
Uber offers a cheaper alternative to traditional taxi and bus services, but some are not convinced about safety for the passenger.
The company has faced accusations declaring that its service is not as safe as traditional taxi services. Last year, district attorneys from Los Angeles and San Francisco filed a lawsuit against Uber for alleged exaggeration of the thoroughness of its drivers’ background checks.
In Uber’s history, multiple drivers have been accused of sexual assault against passengers. In the past year, according to the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA), there have been 27 incidents of sexual assault by Uber drivers.
Despite these claims, Ankita Uppugunduri (11) still uses Uber and sees it as a reliable service.
“I feel like Uber is just more well-known and there aren’t that many cases of it going wrong or the drivers being bad, so I think it’s pretty trustworthy,” Ankita said.
More people are using Uber in the countries and states where it is legal, causing taxi companies, bus companies, and the rest of the competition to be left behind.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on November 20, 2015.
