![“[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)
Career Connect hosts lunch and learn event
Students listen to acclaimed artist and journalist, Jason Hanasik. Harker Career Connect hosted an interactive lunch and learn event on Nov. 7.
November 8, 2016
Career Connect, one of Harker’s clubs in the BE department, hosted an interactive lunch and learn event with Jason Hanasik, an acclaimed artist and journalist on Monday Nov. 7. Twenty attendees including sophomores and freshmen gathered around the Innovation Center tables to listen to Hanasik’s background, advice, and current career from 12:35 to 1:25.
Beginning with a brief introduction, each student shared their plausible career interests, grade, and name. Once more students convened for the discussion, Hanasik began to describe his life journey followed by a twenty minute Q & A session.
“He made it clear that its okay to go back and restart, they mentioned he was working in art because normally career connect is about business and I felt it was a little unusual so I was curious ” Emmy Huchley (10) said.
Specializing in visual art and immersive media, Hanasik’s work primarily focuses on trauma, reintegration, addiction, the military experience, as well as human rights. Featured in the Smithsonian national art gallery and LA times, Hanasik’s art career has been steadily escalating. First starting out as a marketer in Gap, Jason shot a marketing campaign video which received tremendous popularity.
He later explained how sometimes “you need to get out of your head and in your belly” as his new approach to digital campaigns promoted himself as well as the company Gap. Throughout the discussion, he emphasized the importance of new idea generation in start up businesses and why certain businesses succeed.
“As you are developing your business, think about your story… entrepreneurs are way too close to their idea,” Hanasik said.“If you never feel that you can fail, then you are never going to ever be interesting.”
The experiences in Hanasik’s life triggered the subject of his work. His sister committed suicide at the age of 27 and Hanasik wanted to focus his attention on how it feels not having a member of his family. Currently, he is working on two films: one about the shame in his family about his sister’s suicide and mass incarceration and second about women trafficking and homelessness.
“I wanted to focus on the intense repressed grief that has not been discussed.” Hanasik said.
Alexis Gauba (12), one of the founders of Career Connect, discusses the reason behind hosting this event.
“He spoke about his life journey and it’s very untraditional than what harker kids are used to. Most students were looking at future stem careers that would land them in a good college. Very much what we’re taught to have the correct career but he spoke about his unconventional path and his journey of the creative way, it’s okay to fail, it’s okay to follow your passions , you just have to make sure you do what you believe in life. And that is very different than the technicalities of life.”
Michael Acheatel, advisor of CareerConnect, explained his vision behind this event and why his team specifically chose Hanasik.
“With a lot of focus being on stem related subjects, we thought it would be great to get someone in the art world. He was a good example of someone who didn’t abandon his passions but rather used those to find the best path forward for himself and I think students identified with that” Acheatel said.
Career Connect plans to host more events in the future.
