![“[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)
Varsity boys volleyball defeats Cupertino High School in three sets
Anoushka Buch
Between sets, the varsity boys volleyball team cheers within their huddle. They beat Cupertino High School in three sets.
March 31, 2018
The varsity boys volleyball team defeated Cupertino High School last Friday in three sets, with scores of 25-12, 25-17 and 25-19.
The first set was over quickly. Within the first few minutes, the boys established a lead of several points through serves by Charlie Molin (11). They maintained their headway throughout the set and finished with a final score of 25-12.
The second set, however, was a little more difficult for the team. For the first half, both Cupertino and Harker were within one to two points of each other, and the teams alternated with the lead. After about 12 points, Harker gained velocity and finished the set with a score of 25-17. Valuable contributions to this lead were made by Vance Hirota (10), Jarrett Anderson (11) and Jeffrey Kwan (10).
The boys finished the game after their third set, which had a final score of 25-19. The set ended with a point scored by sophomore Liam Bakar.
Around a hundred students and faculty attended this game. The team worked together to organize free food and games for fans who came out to support them, and this incentive combined with the proximity of spring break resulted in a large show of fans.
“The crowd really helped us get momentum and continue to score and play well,” Billy Fan (9) said. “It felt really gratifying to know that so many people are behind you.”
The boys’ next game is an away match against Cupertino, and it will take place on Thursday, April 12 at 6:45 p.m.
