![“[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)
Five places in the Bay Area to visit this summer
May 31, 2017
From mountains to beaches to bustling cities, the Bay Area is filled with a plethora of activities to do this summer. Try to hit up some of these spots this break!
Mission Peak
As the most popular attraction in Fremont, this dog-friendly, six mile long trail is a popular hiking spot in the East Bay. The steep trail is located off of Stanford Avenue. The “Mission Peeker” pole, a popular photo spot, stands at the summit of the hike. The summit also features a broad view of Silicon Valley and occasionally on clear days, other Bay Area peaks including Mount Tamalpais and Mount Diablo can be seen. Due to the intensity of the hike, it is important to bring water and keep oneself hydrated.
Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk features a beautiful beach as well as a variety of rides, treats, and other types of amusement on the beachfront. Right off Highway 17, visiting the Boardwalk is a great way to cool off this summer. The Boardwalk features the Giant Dipper, a historical rollercoaster that was declared a National Historic Landmark. With a laser tag center, multiple roller coasters, a drop tower and an arcade, the Boardwalk has activities for people from every age groups.
Wikimedia Images
Ghirardelli Square
Located in the Fisherman’s Wharf part of San Francisco, Ghirardelli Square is the home of all things chocolate in the Bay. Although the square features a number of shops including a bakery, a juice shop and a winery, it is best known for its ice cream shop. The two-leveled store has a display on the first floor that shows how chocolate is made. The square is adjacent to the waterfront and has a small beach. Visitors can take a short walk along the oceanside to reach the famous Pier 39. With vibrant street performers, delicious seafood stalls and diverse stores, the waterfront walk from the Square to Pier 39 is an enjoyable experience.
Wikimedia Images
The Dish Trail
The Stanford Dish Trail surrounds the Dish, an active radio telescope that is used by SRI International and owned by the U.S. Government. This 3.5 mile long hike in the foothills around the Dish welcomes all pedestrians but prohibits dogs and bikes. Cows are often seen grazing on the land nearby, and occasionally mountain lions are spotted. The trail opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 7:30 p.m. during the summer.
Wikimedia Images
Angel Island
In the San Francisco Bay, this historic island was once used as an immigration checkpoint. The island Immigration Station is known for the carved poetry from Chinese immigrants detained there which used to cover the walls before a fire destroyed the original building. Now, the Angel Island State Park. It is accessible by ferry from San Francisco, Vallejo and Tiburon. A number of hikes, some bike-friendly, are available for tourists visiting the island.The common perimeter trail is a six mile walk or bike around the island, while the Mount Livermore trail offers hikers expansive sights of the San Francisco Bay.
