![“[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)
Humans of Harker: Avi Khemani risks it for the biscuit
“As a creative person, I think about hitting shots that no one else ever thinks about. I like taking risks, as opposed to a lot of people who would rather play it safe. As a golfer, I really just want to have fun and pull off the best possible shot. Taking risks is not only more exhilarating; you only get one opportunity,” Avi Khemani (12) said.
October 28, 2016
Avi Khemani (12) has a routine before putting the golf ball. He kneels down and shuts one eye, spends 30 seconds meticulously lining up his shot, then strikes the ball with a gentle but powerful tap from his club.
“Whenever I step out in the golf course, I force myself to focus and not let anything distract me,” Avi said. “I focus on my senses a lot and take deep breaths.”
As an individual sport, golf gives Avi complete power over his own success. He plays on the Harker golf team, for both competitive purposes and pure enjoyment of the sport.
“If I don’t do well, it’s on me,” he said. “If I do well, it’s on me. I feel like I’m in full control of the outcome. Also, you’re always outside with nature, and it requires a ton of imagination and creativity.”
Avi cited a video shown by his coach as particularly influential in his golf career.
“My golf coach showed me a video of Steph Curry, and the final quote was ‘Success is not an accident. Success is a choice,’” Avi said. “That resonated with me because I always saw these successful people and wondered how they got to that point, and watching the video showed me how much Steph Curry practiced in order to get to the level at which he is today.”
During last year’s golf season, Avi won the Eagle Award for his charismatic personality and ability in the sport.
“I went to every practice with a positive attitude,” he said. “A lot of people got frustrated and were really competitive. I never complained on the golf course as much, and tried to make the most of every practice. I’m a risky player.”
According to his teammate Sandip Nirmal (12), Avi has an eccentric style on the golf course.
“Avi’s probably the most energetic person on the team,” Sandip Nirmel (12) said. “He’s the most bubbly and he’s always talking. He gets on our opponent’s’ nerves a lot because he sometimes wears bow ties when he’s playing golf. Whenever we go in there with Avi, nobody knows how he’s going to play, but a lot of the time he plays well. He’s been a pretty key part of our team.”
When Avi examines his position and prepares for his shot, he calmly takes in his surroundings and remembers that he’s there to enjoy his sport.
“As a creative person, I think about hitting shots that no one else ever thinks about,” he said. “I like taking risks, as opposed to a lot of people who would rather play it safe. As a golfer, I really just want to have fun and pull off the best possible shot. Taking risks is not only more exhilarating; you only get one opportunity.”
