![“[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)
Movies to look forward to watching this summer
Wikimedia Commons
Movie posters for “Finding Dory,” “Independence Day: Resurgence,” “The Shallows,” “The BFG” and “Suicide Squad.” Hollywood is releasing over 40 movies this summer, 17 of which are sequels, remakes and spinoffs.
June 8, 2016
Summer is finally here and so are barbecues, backpacking, binge watching, beach trips and, of course, blockbusters. Not only is making a getaway to the local air-conditioned movie theater an escape from the sweltering heat, but it’s also a great way to pass time during lazy summer days. Hollywood is releasing over 40 films this sunny season, but here are a few prime choices to keep you entertained over these three months.
“Finding Dory”
Rating: PG
Release Date: June 17
One of the most highly anticipated Pixar movies of the last decade, “Finding Dory” stars beloved main characters from its 2003 precursor “Finding Nemo,” while also featuring an array of new personalities, including Dory’s parents. The story is centralized around Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), the quirky blue tang fish who embarks on a journey with the help of Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and Nemo (voiced by Hayden Rolence) to find the family that she cannot recall due to her short-term memory loss.
“Independence Day: Resurgence”
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: June 24
The sequel to the 1996 blockbuster “Independence Day,” “Resurgence” takes place 20 years after the events of the original. After two decades of pulling together a defense force to protect Earth from extraterrestrial invaders, mankind must once again face and fight against the impending doom of a catastrophic alien attack. “Resurgence” stars some of the main cast members from the first film, including Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, while also featuring a new generation of heroes portrayed by several actors, including Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher.
“Independence Day: Resurgence” trailer
“The Shallows”
Rating: Unrated
Release Date: June 29
A chilling survival thriller, “The Shallows” tells the story of Nancy (Blake Lively), a young surfer who is stranded on a rock 200 yards from shore after a great white shark attacks her. Circled by the predator, Nancy must find a way to return safely to the nearby shore, the ultimate test of her will. Although Lively is the central character of the small cast, the computer-generated-imagery (CGI) great white with whom she shares her screentime with is remarkably impressive, acknowledged by fans as one of the most realistic CGI sharks in movie history.
“The BFG”
Rating: PG
Release Date: July 1
Based upon the whimsical 1982 children’s book under the same title by Roald Dahl, “The BFG” (Big Friendly Giant) is about an insightful yet lonely orphan named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) who befriends a kindhearted yet equally lonely giant (voiced by Mark Rylance). The two embark on a mission together to capture the man-eating giants that wreak havoc upon the human world. Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced under Disney studios, the film is sure to tug on the heartstrings of audiences of all ages.
“Suicide Squad”
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: Aug. 5
In this action-packed, violent film produced by the same studios that brought audiences the Superman and Batman movies, the US government places a life-threatening secret mission to save the world in the hands of the “bad guys”: incarcerated supervillains. These villains were previously thwarted by superheroes from the DC universe, include Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith) and Enchantress (Cara Delevingne). The movie, which DC fans eagerly await, also features Batman’s enigmatic nemesis Joker, portrayed by Jared Leto.
