![“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)
The time to shower your friends and family with generous gifts is back. Swamped with what to buy this holiday season? No worries! This Christmas gift guide will give you tips on what items to purchase for this holiday season.
Though your mom would likely appreciate any kind of gift that came from you, it is always nice to be splurged on. Buying her items that relate to any of her hobbies will mean a lot. For example, if she is an avid baker, try picking up a set of cutely shaped cookie cutters or a cupcake-decorating kit. If you do not want to spend money, a homemade gift is personal and sweet. Breakfast in bed or a handmade scrapbook is inexpensive and a chance to get creative. You can also choose to purchase a digital photo frame and fill it with your favorite family pictures.
For your father, you can purchase athletic apparel and equipment or even game tickets if he is a sports fan. Other potential presents include Golfsmith gift cards to pick up that club he has been hoping for or an aftershave. Dads who enjoy crossword puzzles or Sudoku would appreciate an activity book of them. A unique idea is to create a personalized coffee mug for him, as it is a present that he may use on a regular basis.
Grandparents will love a batch of gingerbread cookies or red velvet cupcakes that are packaged in a cute container. Creative homemade cards or gift cards to clothing stores will always do the job.
Your siblings may torment you on a regular basis, but you know you still love them. Brothers who are video game fanatics will settle for games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, or Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. If they enjoy listening to music, buy headphones from Beats by Dr. Dre or Skullcandy. Another idea is to purchase iTunes gift cards for music or applications.
Gifts for sisters depend on their personality, but anything from Sephora, Bath & Body Works, or their favorite clothing store is definitely a safe bet. Sephora has a lot of options but makeup palettes that provide a lot of colors for a small price are usually a good choice. Scents that girls may enjoy from Bath & Body Works include Warm Vanilla Sugar, Sweet Pea, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Secret Wonderland and Twilight Woods. If you are uncertain of what present to buy, stick with a gift card so they can pick out their perfect item.
