![“[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)
World History students travel to Europe during Spring Break
History teacher Andrea Milius presents an overview of the trip to interested freshmen and sophomores. The 10-day trip will occur over Spring Break.
March 23, 2016
Sixteen freshmen and sophomores will travel to Italy and Greece during Spring Break starting today to April 2 to obtain firsthand experience of the places they are learning about in history class.
“You’re going to see some of the best arts. You’re going to learn about the history. We actually see a lot of places, but you also see other cultures,” upper school World History teacher Andrea Milus said. “It’s also good way to know other Harker students, so hopefully we bond.”
Walrod’s decision on the location of the trip traced back to survey results four years ago indicating high school interest in Italy and Greece and because of parents who approached her with the idea.
“When you learn about history, it’s so hard to bring alive,” director of global education Jennifer Walrod said. “Our teachers are so amazing at what they do, but there is something really unique about learning about something in history and then actually going there and seeing it and standing in that place.”
Students will visit art museums, monuments and tourist sites in Italy and Greece with rich and deep history such as the Pompeii. The trip is targeted towards freshmen and sophomores to enrich their studies of World and European history.
“I wanted to go on the trip because I’ve never been out of the country, so I thought this would be an interesting experience,” Julia Huang (10) said. “We’re learning about the Roman Empire and the Hellenistic Empire in [AP World History], so I can see firsthand the ancient cultures’ legacies and what they’ve created.”
Students will visit the Vatican, Rome, Naples, Capri, Athens, Pompeii and Delphi. In addition, they will visit landmarks such as the Parthenon, the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel.
“I hope that coming back, I will not only have new knowledge about historical figures and Latin history, but also a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the ancient world,” Nikhil Dharmaraj (9) said. “Greek and Roman culture has always been fascinating for me.”
The trip will cost $4500 to $4800. The deadline for applying to the trip was Sept. 4 last year. Students attending the trip will miss one day of class before spring break starts.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on March 23, 2016.
