![“[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)
Another year bites the dust
2017 was a busy year, one perhaps most notably characterized by political tension, natural disasters and news of violence and cultures of harassment worldwide. Moments of community, celebration and new beginnings pervaded our last 12 months, particularly here at the upper school. Most of all, though, 2017 was a year of change.We cannot feature all the most important events of the last year. We have selected a few with considerable significance.
February 5, 2018
U.S. faces reckoning over assault, harassment and misconduct
Allegations, consequences spread to Hollywood, politicans, Silicon Valley, media
Trump sworn in as 45th president
Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the U.S. on Jan. 20, 2017, with wife Melania on his left. Half a million people attended his inauguration in Washington, D.C.
4 million Americans march in protests
People protest outside San Francisco’s City Hall at the first Women’s March on Jan. 20, 2017. Women’s Marches across the country also took place on Jan. 20, 2018 to protest Trump policies one year later.
Trump’s first year
JAN 27
President Trump signs an executive order banning travel to U.S. from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen
MAY 9
Trump fires FBI Director James Comey
MAY 17
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller tapped to investigate potential Russian meddling in 2016 U.S. election
DEC 22
President Trump signs tax overhaul into law
Athletic center opens Aug. 18; Yager becomes head of school
to inaugurate the new Athletic Center at the upper school on Aug. 18 as Head of Athletics Dan Molin watches.
58 killed in Las Vegas mass shooting
Across the site of the festival, people visit a makeshift memorial, one of several set up in the week after the Las Vegas shooting. Fifty-eight people were killed and at least 527 were injured at an outdoor concert on Oct. 1.
Bitcoin hits record of nearly $20,000 on Dec. 17
3 major U.S. hurricanes
President Trump announces end of DACA program, which protects 800,000 undocumented immigrants
of the DACA program at a Seattle rally in June. President Trump in September announced a rollback of the program that protects undocumented immigrants who entered the country at a young age.
Football players nationwide kneel to protest racial injustice
Members of the Bellarmine High School football team knelt at their games the week of Oct. 12, echoing peaceful protests around the country in which football players knelt during the 2016 and 2017 footbal season as the national anthem played, to protest racial injustice in the U.S.
