![“[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)
The beauty of school
Senior reflects on back-to-school blues
September 6, 2017
Courtesy of Krishna Bheda
My light brown curls bounced and my light-up sneakers flashed as I strutted into the room, past the bright neon “Welcome to Kindergarten” sign. With my my mom’s hand in mine, I quickly scanned the room, soon to fling my arms around my mother’s waist because I had spotted an empty chair and was excited to sit down. After offering her smile, I ran and plopped myself down on a tiny blue chair that sat barely ten inches off the ground. I then started talking to a girl. After only meeting her for the first time, in a matter of moments, we were best friends, or as good of a friends as a four old can be with a girl she has just met.
It is now fall of 2017 and I am going to be a senior. I still love the first week of school. I am not going to lie—school is tough. After a full day of school and a two hour musical practice, going home to four hours of homework is not the most appealing idea. Even though I dread homework and often feel jaded after a long day, I still love high school because I have found the joy in waking up every morning and looking forward to all that I do.
To me, it’s the little moments that make school exciting. I still love the first week of school not only because I get to hug my friends for the first time in months and really catch up, but also because the smell of sharpened pencils and brand new books motivates me to learn. I also love getting to reinvent myself. As teenagers, we are still trying to figure out who we are. Personally, I know that I am always changing and coming back to school each year gives me the opportunity to be who I want to be for the year. I get to make new impressions on people I haven’t seen in three months and on teachers who don’t know me.
Sure, last year you got in a fight with your friend, and your favorite teacher gave you detention, or the girl you liked didn’t go with you to homecoming– but now, it’s a new year and a fresh start, and that is the beauty of back to school. I look forward to the apprehension and excitement of finding out that my best friend is in my Statistics class or being excited to make a new friend, as I always have been.
As a seventeen-year-old, sometimes it is harder to walk up to people I don’t know and be best friends with them in a matter of minutes; however, just as I did when I was five, I have found the little things that make me enjoy coming back to school.
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on September 6, 2017.
