![“[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)
Heart of Harker: Lessons learned teaching French
In this repeating guest column, we encourage all student writers from around the community to share their memorable experiences while at the Upper School. Please email all column ideas to [email protected].
June 6, 2017
After teaching at Harker for 17 years, I am leaving with countless wonderful memories. I would not if I had worked anywhere else.
-Lisa, a student in French III, came one morning before class and asked me a question about the quiz she was going to take that day. A friend, who was accompanying her, whispered in her ear; Lisa blushed, looked at me and apologized for not saying “Hello Mrs. Gathy” before asking her question. Only in Harker.
-Since Robert was having difficulties in my class in spite of being a gifted learner of French, I had a talk with him one day after classes. The next morning, the first thing he did was coming by my classroom and telling me “Thank you for caring”. Only in Harker.
-Mrs. Elchert, the nurse, called me once during office hours to ask me if I could come by in order to give a student, who was getting sick and needed to go rest at home, her oral test because she did not want to miss it. Only in Harker.
-I had a few students who attended their French classes in spite of being excused because of an AP exam the same day. Only in Harker.
-If a test is coming soon, when asked if they want to play a game to review the vocabulary or work on grammatical exercises, some classes will choose the latter. Only in Harker.
-I have taught many students whose forte was not foreign languages, or at least not French, who gave 100% in time and efforts to the class, so they could do a perfectly decent job. Only in Harker.
-Several students always enter the classroom with a warm greeting, and never leave without saying good bye and thanking the teacher for the lesson. Only in Harker.
I could go on and on … Students: you guys are all amazing! I have kept every card, every note you gave me, I have a big box full of them. When I am retired, I will open that box each time I need a little pick-me-up.
I will miss you.
Madame Gathy
Antoinette Gathy is a French teacher at the Harker Upper School. She plans to leave at the end of the 2017 school year, having taught students for 17 years at Harker.
This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on May 11, 2017.
