![“[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)
Humans of Harker: Michael Kwan embodies caring role among friends and family
“My relationship with my siblings is really not different from others — I don’t know, it’s just that some people think of taking care of their siblings as an onus, a chore for them to do, but I think of it as something happy,” Michael Kwan (12) said. “Like when the mom has the baby it’s like a blessing, right? I think of taking care of them as a blessing as well. And with friends it’s the same thing — having friends is the blessing, it’s not like some sort of chore where you have to drive them around and everything, just spending time with them is okay and should not be taken for granted.”
April 15, 2018
Michael Kwan (12) rolls up in his black Mercedes 7-seater, sunglasses on, driver’s window rolled down, ready for wherever the day takes him. Impromptu afternoon ice cream run with friends? They can ride together in his car. Sister Michelle Kwan (10) wants to be dropped off at the mall? Just let him know when the pick-up is. The family dog needs to be let out? He can rush back home in an instant. A devoted friend, brother, son and everything in between, Michael is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to taking care of those around him.
“Being the oldest sibling, I guess you have some of those innate leadership qualities and if you’re not taking care of the younger sibling, I don’t think you are doing your job,” Michael said. “It’s like your role, it’s like being a mom, you have the unspoken role of trying to be a carer, and I think as an older sibling they have that same role.”
At school, Michael can be found dishing out sarcastic comments and witty jokes in a classic teenage boy fashion. Yet at home, when tasked with the role of older brother, Michael molds into a paternal figure, embracing the challenge with pride.
“When my parents aren’t around and they have stuff to do, it’s been up to me to take care of the kids,” Michael said. “One of the defining challenging moments was when they first did that when I was 10 or 11, they were like, ‘Michael, you take care of the other two,’ and then I’m like, ‘okay.’ I made sure that they’re watching the correct TV shows, they had enough snacks, they went to the bathroom every once in a while like the dog, and when my parents came back I’m like, ‘I’m done,’ and they were like, ‘Wow, great job Michael!’”
With one sister in 10th grade and one in 6th, Michael can be found as free tutor, personal chauffeur and protective brother all in one.
“I remember I had a TSA conference one weekend and really needed to buy some last minute supplies for my competitive event, and he drove me to all the nearby Targets and Office Depots to find the specific items I needed,” his sister Michelle said. “Also, when our parents are out, he always brings me and Emma some takeout from our favorite places.”
Jerry Chen (12) called him the “responsible one” of their friends.
“He’s very dependable,” Jerry said. “He always knows what we’re doing. He’s the one we always put in charge of knowing what to do and knowing where to go and scheduling things, because he knows all this random stuff.”
Through all the errand-running and care-taking, in the end, Michael never views the favors he does for family and friends as a burden, and embraces and cherishes the time he can spend making the lives of others around him easier.
“My relationship with my siblings is really not different from others — I don’t know, it’s just that some people think of taking care of their siblings as an onus, a chore for them to do, but I think of it as something happy,” Michael said. “Like when the mom has the baby it’s like a blessing, right? I think of taking care of them as a blessing as well. And with friends it’s the same thing — having friends is the blessing, it’s not like some sort of chore where you have to drive them around and everything, just spending time with them is okay and should not be taken for granted.”
