![“[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: Bill Liang uses silent reflection to better himself
![“[Playing piano] is more of a state of peace and frustration at the same time, but it’s a good feeling of frustration. It’s all about pressing the keys of my piano because I can express anything that I’m feeling into a song or piece that I’m playing, and then I get absorbed into it. This is the time when I don’t think about anything else. I’m just in the moment," Bill Liang said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/BillLiang-MelK-900x596.jpg)
“[Playing piano] is more of a state of peace and frustration at the same time, but it’s a good feeling of frustration. It’s all about pressing the keys of my piano because I can express anything that I’m feeling into a song or piece that I’m playing, and then I get absorbed into it. This is the time when I don’t think about anything else. I’m just in the moment,” Bill Liang said.
December 6, 2016
In a noisy world, Bill Liang (12) harnesses the power of silent reflection needed to focus, contemplate and recharge. After 9 years at Harker, Bill has learned that digesting different people’s views allows him to connect with everyone, assimilating his standpoints with others.
“When everyone is talking, [I’m] not saying anything, but I’m observing and listening to everyone,” Bill said. “I’m absorbing all the different outlooks. This way, I can see things in all different perspectives as an outsider’s point of view.”
Bill’s appreciation for quiet introspection has led to a 12-year passion for piano.
“[Playing piano] is fun and calms me down,” he said. “[It] even helps me get into that zone where I absorb everything. Piano helps me in my life of observation.”
For Bill, practice is demanding, yet fulfilling, and it provides an outlet for expression away from the stresses of daily life.
“It’s more of a state of peace and frustration at the same time, but it’s a good feeling of frustration,” Bill said. “It’s all about pressing the keys of my piano because I can express anything that I’m feeling into a song or piece that I’m playing, and then I get absorbed into it. This is the time when I don’t think about anything else. I’m just in the moment.”
As a member of the soccer, cross-country and track and field teams at Harker, Bill has also noticed how the power of the unspoken word extends into the sports arena as well.
“Even though you don’t say anything, you just feel it, because that’s what a team is, that’s the brother bond we form at the beginning of the season,” Bill said. “Cross-country and track and field are both a single-based event, so I think that’s more focused on personal motivation, rather than a team. My inner drive and my team help me so much while they cheer me on in the sidelines, which lets me persevere and finish.”
The combination of his perceptive nature and willingness to explore is ultimately what led him to find his calling. He silently listened to truly find himself.
“While he’s very caring and very quiet, he’s actually quite expressive of his feelings and actively talks when you get to know him, Albert Pun (12), a close friend of Bill, said, “He ventures out everywhere, being a great player on the soccer team and an amazing pianist.”
Bill encourages others to be open to new experiences as well.
“If you’re unsure of anything or what you want to do, try as many things as you can,” he said. “I really hope that people can find something that they love too.”
