![“I wasn't discouraged by some of the obstacles we faced. I learned a lot from the leadership. I found that different people need different ways of receiving feedback — you can't [just] tell them to do something and expect the best. [Some] people needed more incentive. A large part of my role was to figure out what worked for everyone and to figure out how to lead all these separate individuals as a team,” Suhana Bhandare (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SuhanaBhandare_JasmineHansra-1-1200x798.jpg)
![“This is actually from Randy Pausch Randy P. Brick: ‘Walls are there for a reason. You have to show how much you want to overcome them.’ You have to show how much you want something. That's what I've always been able to do with tennis, Link Crew and getting that internship [with Kushy Baby]. It’s important pushing through that — getting around that brick wall, climbing over it or clawing through it,” Yash Sachdeva (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YashSachdeva_RamBatchu-copy-1200x1002.jpg)
![“[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)
“New Year’s Eve” review: 4.5 stars
December 9, 2011
January 1: the mark of the new year. It is the day when people start anew, create resolutions, and make goals; it is the day of a new beginning. The night before, New Year’s Eve, is the one night each year when the world comes together to celebrate the past year and move forward.
“New Year’s Eve,” directed by Garry Marshall and written by Katherine Fugate, writer of “Valentine’s Day,” features a star-studded cast ranging from musical sensations to icons of the movie industry.
As the daylight fades, the countdown to the new year begins, and that countdown is what this movie chronicles, in ten different plot lines that all somehow intertwine.
Although the characters live very different day-to-day lives, for this one night, each of them has one goal in mind: to have something magical occur on this special occasion, whether it be to have the shining ball drop successfully in Times Square, check off all the resolutions on their list, have the $25,000 New Year’s baby, or get that perfect midnight kiss. Each story is very unique and dynamic, and the popular cast makes the film all the more enjoyable.
The movie begins with Claire Morgan (Hilary Swank), the perfectly cast vice president of the Times Square Alliance, as she tries to impeccably organize the annual Times Square ball dropping. Alongside her stands Brendan (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), a NYPD cop, who seems to know a lot about her.
The camera switches scenes, introducing Laura Carrington (Katherine Heigl), a catering service chef with her sidekicks played by the stunning Sofia Vergara and hilarious Russell Peters. She just so happens to be catering the same Archer Records gala at which her super star ex, Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi), whom she still resents, is performing.
Next, we are introduced to Paul (Zac Efron), a girl-hunting yet adorable delivery boy, who creatively helps Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer), an employee of Archer Records, fulfill her resolutions list before midnight, in exchange for tickets to the most anticipated New Year’s Eve gala.
Paul’s roommate, Randy (Ashton Kutcher),who is extremely against the whole concept of New Year’s Eve, falls into an unlucky situation with a girl Elise (Lea Michele). What looks like a normal elevator ride turns into hours of entrapment.
Other smaller stories include those that take place in a hospital, involving nurse Amy (Halle Berry) who spends her final hours with Stan Harris (Robert De Niro) as well as two couples who compete to have that first born baby of the new year (Jessica Biel, Seth Meyers, Sarah Paulson, and Til Schweiger), which makes for one of the best stories.
Additionally, there is the story of a young girl (Abigail Breslin) and her desire to finally kiss the cute boy in her history class (Jake T. Austin) without the bind of her mother (Sarah Jessica Parker), and the quest of a dapper and intelligent man (Josh Duhamel) as he tries to find the girl who had kissed him at midnight the year before.
With this inundation of Hollywood celebrities, one may feel a bit overwhelmed, but the movie does an excellent job of differentiating between each plot line. Additionally, what makes these complex mini-stories so compelling are the connections and relationships that are cleared up nearing the end of the movie. Finding out how one story is related to another really emphasizes the theme of togetherness during the holiday season and is truly heart-warming.
Though this movie may seem similar to “Valentine’s Day” (2009), “Love Actually” (2003), or any other similar romantic comedy, it is far better in terms of story-line, cast, and humor. The movie’s varying plots can cater to any audience.
Overall, “New Year’s Eve” is full of surprises and really emphasizes “the one thing that turns a lonely place into a lovely place: love.” It’s not monumental, but the spirit of the humor and warmth of sentiment makes for a serendipitous harmony of all people coming together to celebrate faith, the beginning of a new year, and all the magic that comes with it.
Rating 4.5/5 because of the well-portrayed love and emotion, great humor, and very heart-warming romance stories that really bookend the year well.
