![“[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: Sana Aladin makes her voice heard
Kevin Huang
“With speech, you get these 10 minutes to say whatever you want and I think what you say says so much about you, the stories you share and what’s important to you. With theater, it’s the same thing, but it’s a more collaborative experience, and you’re there to share your story for a longer time. I think that both theater and speech, the reason why I do both of them and love both of them so much, is that you can really share what’s important to you, and it’s kind of a place where people have to listen to you,” Sana Aladin (12) said.
November 29, 2016
Sana Aladin (12) has a lot to say, so it’s no surprise that she takes part in theater and speech.
“Anyone who knows me would probably say: ‘She’s someone who will keep talking and talking and talking about what she believes in and what she likes,’ and I think that’s something someone would get to know about me pretty quickly,” she said.
She began delving into these two passions of hers in middle school and performed in her first show, “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet,” in eighth grade.
“I think I just had so much fun with that one show because at the time, a lot of my friends were in that show too, and I just remember it being like immediately feeling like I was part of this community, even though I had literally done one show,” she said.
In sophomore year, Sana acted in the Student Directed Showcase (SDS) show “We Live Here,” directed by Madi Lang-Ree (‘15). To this day, she considers that production to be her favorite.
“I got a pretty sizable part, and I was super excited about it,” she said. “It was also the first very dramatic show I’d done, and that is something that I really love to do. I made so many friends that year.”
In addition to theater, Sana enjoys performing in speech tournaments because they allow her to share ideas with others.
“I think it’s just such an amazing platform for people to share their stories, and that’s something that I see in speech,” she said. “With speech, you take a piece of literature, like a play, and then that’s someone else’s story that may not come to light and you make it your own. It’s you performing it and you really bringing life to it and sharing these important stories.”
Sana feels like the friends she has made over the years through mutual interests, such as acting and debating, have helped nurture her passions.
“I think they’re probably the most open people I know,” she said. “They’re really people who, because they all understand the value of theater as a platform to speak, will let you speak, even when you’re not on the stage. I’m so happy that I’ve found that small niche with them within the larger community.”
Three years after her first experience with SDS, Sana is preparing to direct her own SDS show, “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
“When I found an adapted version of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest,’ I got super excited because it’s all of that amazing wit and humor and farce condensed into half an hour,” she said. “I was like, ‘I have to do it.’”
Sana plans to continue performing in theater and helping high school students with speech in the future.
“I think I’m just about being as outspoken as I can about the issues that I care about,” she said. “I think if you have something to say, don’t hold back.”
