![“[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: Abhay Varmaraja and his journey with basketball
“When I was in middle school, I didn’t talk to that many people. I would just do my thing, stay in my lane. But in high school, I realized that if you do that, you won’t get anything done in these four years. Having people to talk to helps not only within the classroom, it helps you get things done, and also talking with your teachers is so important. Just talking with people is such a valuable skill, and so many people don’t see that. It’s one of the most important things I’ve learned in high school,” Abhay Varmaraja (12) said.
March 29, 2017
Abhay Varmaraja (12) realized his love for basketball when he transitioned from playing basketball recreationally to joining an official school team in sixth grade.
“I really enjoy playing basketball; that’s probably my favorite [extra curricular]. I’ve been playing basketball for four years at Harker, ever since I came here to start high school. But even before then, even before middle school, I played basketball, so I’ve been playing basketball for a long time,” he said.
Abhay has been playing basketball since elementary school and has dedicated himself to playing for his school’s team. Playing basketball helps him relax or blow off steam by channeling his energy and thoughts into shooting hoops. He draws inspiration from the people he admires.
“One of my favorite moments was in eighth grade. We were playing post-season, and I was one of the team captains. It was the second to last play of the game, and we ran a pick and roll,” he said. “I had a rebound to a pass for the game winning shot a block to win the game.”
Sometimes, continuing to play basketball would prove to be a challenge, despite his never ending enthusiasm for the sport.
“Before the junior year season, I didn’t know if I was going to play varsity. I had played [junior varsity] the year before, but I didn’t start or anything like that. It was going to be hard for me to make varsity,” he said. “That kind of uncertainty can get to you sometimes, but I managed to make it out and keep playing basketball.”
In his four years of high school, Abhay’s realized that one of the most important skills he’s learned is talking.
“When I was in middle school, I didn’t talk to that many people. I would just do my thing, stay in my lane. But in high school, I realized that if you do that, you won’t get anything done in these four years,” he said. “Having people to talk to helps not only within the classroom, it helps you get things done, and also talking with your teachers is so important. Just talking with people is such a valuable skill, and so many people don’t see that. It’s one of the most important things I’ve learned in high school.”
