![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
Conservatory finishes winter performances
The upper school orchestra, lab band and jazz band performed at the concert. The Spring Concert will be in April.
January 24, 2017
Student Directed Showcase provides a creative outlet for student actors:
Harker’s annual program, Student Directed Showcase (SDS), allowed novice and experienced actors to showcase their skills under student directors. This year’s shows, directed by seniors Chetana Kalidindi, Emre Ezer, Sana Aladin and Kayvon Solaimanpour, featured “Grover,” “Removing the Glove,” “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Dystopia!”.
“I love teacher directors, but getting to have someone who’s a student is really interesting,” said sophomore Meghna Phalke, who was in “Removing the Glove.”
The students performed Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 at the Blackford theater.
The dance show invites you to the circus:
Rehearsals for the annual dance show at the Blackford campus begin after last Saturday’s dress rehearsal. The show, featuring the theme “Circus,” consists of two acts: “Enter the Circus,” which centers around general circus themed dances, and “Daring acts and sideshow freaks,” which focuses on the more riveting sides of the circus.
“I’m always excited about seeing the students performing on stage after months and months of hard work and rehearsals,” upper school dance instructor Karl Kuehn said. “It’s nice to see everything come to life in a fun and vibrant and entertaining setting.”
This year 153 students are participating in the dance show, as well as nine faculty members and 10 student choreographers. The dancers will perform this Friday and Saturday at the Blackford theater.
Middle school and High school bands perform at winter concert:
Upper school orchestra, lab band and jazz band as well as several middle school instrumental groups performed at the Mexican Heritage Theater on Jan. 13 for the annual Winter Concert.
“The upper school groups are really sounding amazing, and it’s a really difficult program,” said Christopher Florio, upper school instrumental music teacher. “[We] definitely have more students performing now than I think we’ve ever had, and I’m really excited.”
The orchestra will be performing again in March at Carnegie Hall and in April for the Spring Concert at De Anza college.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on January 24, 2017.
