![“[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)
GSA hosts annual club week
GSA club members Emmy Huchley (10), Sian Smith (10), Damini Kaushik (10), Kevin Huang (12) and Emilie Sanche (10) sell boba outside of Manzanita. GSA members also handed out rainbow smiley stickers to students and faculty on Monday during lunch.
March 24, 2017
Harker Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) held its club week this week, selling blueberry coffee cake and boba during office hours and after school. All profits were donated to Outlet, an LGBTQ youth support group.
The club works to provide support for the school’s LGBTQ community and their allies, or people who support LGBTQ rights and gender equality.
“We do outreach to the larger community to educate and foster a more open, tolerant, diverse and accepting community that benefits the LGBTQ community in specific, and every community that [feels] different or outside the mainstream,” Olivas said.
Club members started off the week by handing out rainbow smiley stickers during long lunch, and many students and faculty wore the stickers throughout the day to show their support for LGBTQ students and their rights. Starting Tuesday, Hobee’s, a local brunch place managed by a gay owner, supported the fundraiser by donating their blueberry coffee cake for GSA to sell. The week ended with boba tea sales.
“Our mission is to provide support for the LGBTQ families and community and their allies- adults as well as students,” Mr. Olivas said.
Students were given the option to pay for their purchases in cash or charge them to their student account.
