![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
Northern California wildfires: How to help
Smoke from the ongoing fires in the North Bay color the Friday morning skies above the upper school burnt orange. Students, parents and faculty are invited to bring all donations Friday afternoon to either the lower, middle, or upper school campuses for Harker’s “Stuff the Bus” drive.
October 17, 2017
Various organizations nationwide have begun recovery efforts for the fires that started in Northern California last Monday.
Harker will be hosting a “Stuff the Bus” drive for canned goods, nonperishable food, clothing and gift cards, all of which will be delivered to the Finley Community Center and Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa to help relief efforts. Students, parents and faculty are invited to bring all donations Friday afternoon to either the lower, middle, or upper school campuses. Drop-offs for donations will be held at the lower school from 6 to 8 p.m and at the middle school from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For the upper school, drop-offs will be held on Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. near the Singh Aquatics Center and on Saturday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m near Manzanita.
In addition to the Stuff the Bus drive, here are some other ways to contribute:
Donations
Sports Basement stores are collecting donations for shelters in need. People can bring in donations and buy donation items.
Petaluma officials posted inquires on social media for locals to donate baby food, pet food, water, blankets and toilet paper to evacuation centers. The city of Santa Rosa encouraged people to donate to the United Way of Wine County’s Relief Fund.
Peet’s Coffee & Tea announced that customers can make cash or digital donations for its North Bay Fire Relief Campaign through Sunday at any of its stores around the country.
San Francisco clothing shop Love on Haight posted on Facebook that it was accepting clothing donations. The store has also stationed a donation table outside for people to drop off clothing donations.
GoFundMe, in partnership with Direct Impact Fund, has created a central California fire relief page with various individual campaigns.
People can donate to food pantries in the affected Napa, Yuba and Sonoma Counties.
Housing
California residents have created a public Google Doc listing volunteers willing to provide housing options for fire victims.
Airbnb has started an open homes program allowing people to host victims of the fire free of charge. SHARE Sonoma County is also arranging people who are in need of a home.
Volunteering
The American Red Cross released a statement on Monday afternoon saying that it no longer needs extra volunteers but encouraged people to sign up online in case volunteers will be needed in the future.
A website from the government of California has listed ways to help, ranging from financial contributions to volunteer positions.
