![LALC Vice President of External Affairs Raeanne Li (11) explains the International Phonetic Alphabet to attendees. "We decided to have more fun topics this year instead of just talking about the same things every year so our older members can also [enjoy],” Raeanne said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_4627-1200x795.jpg)
![“[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: Joyce Huang believes in the power of education
![“I like that fact that [public forum debate] is based on the community because anyone can listen in on a public forum round and understand what is happening. We get judged by judges who are parents, teachers, or anyone from your community. I like the fact that it is so universal and inclusive," Joyce Huang (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-11-at-9.04.04-PM.png)
“I like that fact that [public forum debate] is based on the community because anyone can listen in on a public forum round and understand what is happening. We get judged by judges who are parents, teachers, or anyone from your community. I like the fact that it is so universal and inclusive,” Joyce Huang (12) said.
January 11, 2017
When Joyce Huang (12) tried speech and debate for the first time in sixth grade, she hated it. But ever since she specialized in solely debate in seventh grade, it gradually became one of her greatest passions.
“I love going to debate tournaments,” she said. “It is so fun, but there is so much work and missed classes. However, I still love it because it is really worth it when you get to the tournament. You get to compete against all these different people from all over the country with different perspectives. You get to really immerse yourself in the debate community.”
To Joyce, debate provides an avenue for the exchange of ideas. Out of the four types of debate offered at Harker, she favors public forum.
“I like that fact that [public forum debate] is based on the community because anyone can listen in on a public forum round and understand what is happening,” she said. “We get judged by judges who are parents, teachers, or anyone from your community. I like the fact that it is so universal and inclusive.”
During the past four years, Joyce has concentrated her efforts on schoolwork on top of debate and science research, a result of the work ethic that she learned from her parents.
“My parents came here when I was three, and they worked really hard to get where we are now,” Joyce said. “That is inspiring that they did not know what was ahead, but they worked for a better future for me.”
Motivated by her own positive experiences at school, Joyce strives to bring education to developing countries. She wishes to close the ever-growing gap between first-world and third-world countries through the power of education, even going to Nepal last summer to volunteer. She cites activist Malala Yousafzai as an inspiration.
“Education nurtures your beliefs; it shapes your ideologies, your viewpoints, and everything,” Joyce said. “Without education, we would be completely different people.”
Joyce also believes in bouncing back from tough situations with a smile on her face.
“To be able to be lighthearted about everything is important,” she said. “If you take everything too seriously, ultimately, it is going to affect you in a negative way. If you are able to look at everything in a funny or a fun perspective, it makes everything seem better.”
