![“[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: Megan Swanson pursues multiple languages
“Languages aren’t just this foreign concept; they’re another way of talking to people. I like the idea of the unknown, and I want to make it so that that unknown culture is known to me. I’m attracted to that mystery. I want to find it; I want to uncover it. If there was no unknown, I think I would just be bored. It excites me, and I want to discover what’s behind it,” Megan Swanson (12) said.
January 20, 2017
Around 5 a.m. in an airport in Washington, D.C., a stranger started speaking to Megan Swanson (12) in Chinese. The man appeared to be requesting to borrow her phone, and she replied, in his language, that she did not speak Chinese, asking if he speaks English or French instead.
“What’s so great was that he understood me,” Megan said. “Then, this lady came up. They clearly knew each other, and he was able to figure out where he was supposed to go. He was very persistent in speaking Chinese to a person who clearly did not speak Chinese.”
This encounter further developed her desire to learn new languages.
“I want to be the person who hears someone struggling and trying to communicate with an English speaker and [say] ‘Hey, I speak that language. I can translate,’” she said. “Right now, I’m not proficient enough in any language except for French and English to do that, but someday I will be. I’m definitely working at it.”
Growing up in the Bay Area, Megan was exposed to different cultures surrounding her, but she never experienced them first hand in a foreign country.
“I really love learning about [and experiencing] different cultures,” she said. “For me, my gateway to becoming immersed in those cultures and being able to participate in those cultures is the language. I want to learn the language and communicate with people, understand people on more than just a language basis. Language will make me have a deeper understanding of who people are.”
Megan picked up French and Latin in school, while studying Italian outside of school. She began Latin in the tenth grade and French in the sixth.
“Languages aren’t just this foreign concept; they’re another way of talking to people,” she said. “I like the idea of the unknown, and I want to make it so that that unknown culture is known to me. I’m attracted to that mystery. I want to find it; I want to uncover it. If there was no unknown, I think I would just be bored. It excites me, and I want to discover what’s behind it.”
Judy Pan (12), one of Megan’s friends, knows of Megan’s pursuit of multiple languages.
“I think she also knows basic Spanish too because she’s just brilliant; it’s very amazing [and] difficult,” Judy said. “Megan is very passionate about learning languages. She wants to study [not just one] modern language in college. I support her very much. I even try to teach her words in Chinese.”
One of Megan’s friends worked for at the French Embassy in San Francisco and taught her that pursuing a career in languages does not necessarily involve becoming a teacher or a translator.
“Even though she seems like a mentor figure, she was more of a peer to me,” Megan said. “She’s more there to tell me about all these great experiences that you can have. She showed me that you can make a life out of languages. The opportunities are endless. I know I want to continue language in college. Really there’s no limit. If I have an opportunity to learn any language, I’m going to take it.”
