![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)
Math Club prepares to take last team competition of school year
Harker math club poses outside after taking a math contest. The team will be taking the Purple Comet! Math Meet contest on April 14 and 20.
April 13, 2016
Harker math club members will take the Purple Comet! Math Meet contest on campus between on April 14 and April 20.
“It is free [and] online, so as far as accessibility goes, any school anywhere can participate so it opens up not just to U.S. schools but international schools,” math club advisor Anu Aiyer said.
The Purple Comet! Math Meet is an international online team tournament that takes place annually for middle and high school students. Teams consisting of one to six members may register and take the contest any time from April 12 to April 22. The set of problems for high school students ranges in difficulty and is composed of 30 problems that students must complete in 90 minutes. Problems include advanced algebra, geometry, combinatorics, probability, trigonometry, conic sections, functions and computer science related problems.
“I’ve tried taking Purple Comet in the past, and all the problems there are all really challenging and insightful in the end, so I think it is a great experience,” Jimmy Lin (10) said. “It allows us to collaborate with members on the team so we get multiple perspectives on a problem.”
There are three different award categories: one for teams consisting of students from the same large school, another for students from the same small school, which applies to Harker, and one for students from different schools. Harker will field two teams, but has not decided on the specific members of each team yet.
In 2014, the team, with Patrick Lin (‘15), Suzy Lou (‘15), Vikram Sundar (‘14), Ashwath Thirumalai (15’), Allison Wang (12), and Richard Yi (12), won 1st place with a perfect score, while another team consisting of Kai-Siang Ang (11), Lawrence Li (11), Alex Pei (15’), Peter Wu (11) and David Zhu (11), placed ffth.
The Purple Comet! Math Meet is also the last team competition of the year, and for most club members, will be their last overall contest.
“This year, Harker did much better as a whole at math competitions as compared to last year,” math club officer Misha Ivkov (11) said. “We came into this year with high expectations, and managed to achieve most of the goals we set out.”
Winning teams will be posted on the contest website after contest’s ten day window, and will receive printable certificates via email.
Most math club members will be done for the rest of the year, but Swapnil Garg (10), Kai-Siang Ang (11), David Zhu (10) and Richard Yi (12) qualified for the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), a contest that will span over two days, and will be taking it next week.
“I am excited to participate in USAMO as it is one of the most prestigious math competitions in the nation, and I hope to do well enough to make the [Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program],” Swapnil said. “MOP is a three week camp in June and all the top 50 or so participants of USAMO get invited.”
