![“[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)
Nintendo Switch breaks new ground in console gaming
Wikimedia Commons
The Switch, released by Nintendo on March 3, features a very unique design. Two controllers can either be attached to the central screen for handheld gameplay or detached to either form two small controllers or one large controller.
March 19, 2017
The Nintendo Switch has become one of Nintendo’s fastest-selling consoles and was released on March 3.
The Switch is a gaming system which can be used not only as a home gaming console, but also a portable gaming device.
A device that can be used as both a portable and home gaming console has never been created before. This allows one to play on their television screen, then disconnect from it and continue to play on the handheld screen in a moving car.
“The Nintendo Switch seems like an innovative design from Nintendo that revolutionizes the gaming industry, because it’s such an improvement from the old 3DS,” David Feng (9) said. “It’s compatible with multiple devices and multiple screens which gives it more capabilities that other devices don’t have.”
Despite the popularity of the product, some users dislike a few design choices, such as the location of the charging port. The Switch has been built such that one cannot use its kickstand to hold the console upright while charging. Another negative factor is the shortage of popular games for the console.
“I think it’s a very versatile system because it’s both portable and usable at home,” Lilia Gonzales (10) said. “[A] problem is that there’s [only] one game right now that’s worth getting.”
The portable feature of the gaming system opens the world of gaming to those who feel that they don’t have enough time to play video games at home.
“I think it’s definitely a very [innovative] concept, especially for people who don’t have time to sit down at home with a traditional console and play on their TV,” Jimmy Lin (11) said. “I think it’s a really great way to bring the gaming environment to people who are always on the go.”
According to Forbes, advertisements featuring the console’s capabilities have greatly contributed to the popularity of the console. Nintendo has claimed that the Nintendo Switch has broken their records for fastest-selling console, which were originally set by the Wii.
While popularity and support for the Nintendo Switch grow, design flaws and a lack of released games cause doubt about the product’s future.
“I haven’t experienced the [gameplay] of a Nintendo Switch before, but I’ve heard relatively positive reviews on it,” Matthew Jiang (9) said. “It’s a new product. We’ll see what happens on the market, but until then we just [have to] wait and see.”
