![“[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: Elizabeth Schick remains unfailingly positive
“It’s sometimes hard when I had three surgeries in one year and it was hard to tell myself to keep going,” Elizabeth “Lizzie” Schick (12) said. “It would have been easy if I had quit tennis. No one would have said anything to me. But my coaches told me to trust the process. Whatever happens, happens. I just have to roll with the punches. I just have to get back up and see what happens. I did figure it out, so that’s fine. I feel like everyone has a point where they can choose to stop or keep going. And if you do, you look back on it, you’re pretty happy with yourself.”
April 27, 2018
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Schick’s (12) name often appears in Eagle Update emails, recognized for tournaments won and CCS rounds advanced. But despite being challenged with severe injuries and a choice to give up on her tennis career, her decision to stay in the game is one she cites as one of her most important wins to this day.
In December of 2013, Lizzie had her first surgery for a bone contusion, ankle sprain, and torn ligaments when she was only a freshman. Afterwards, she went through two more surgeries in the course of just one year, and each time, she was forced to make the difficult decision of either giving up her sport or waiting out the many months before she would be able to get back onto the court.
“I would change that I ever got injured and had to go through [four] surgeries, but I also think that I wouldn’t,” Lizzie said. “I think those experiences made me stronger and got me to where I am now. It’s taught me hard work, it’s taught me dedication, it’s taught me to work for something and to feel how working for something makes you feel… I would never have realized those things about myself.”
When she found herself at the crossroads between persevering and taking “the easy path,” her love for tennis motivated her to keep playing the sport.
“It would have been easy if I had quit tennis,” she said. “There’s so many times that I could have threw in the towel and just said, ‘I’m done,’ and people would have totally understood. But I didn’t want to, and I think that shows that no matter what obstacle, whether it be super small or super big, if you really believe in yourself and you really have something that you’re passionate about, then you can overcome it.”
Olivia Long (12), Lizzie’s best friend since kindergarten, expressed her admiration for her friend’s perseverance.
“She’s had four surgeries on her feet and knees, and somehow after each one she manages to keep getting into the gym, getting back into shape, and getting back onto the tennis courts,” Olivia said. “It’s insane.”
This attitude has translated to other areas of Lizzie’s life, especially regarding her studies. From an early age, she’s learned to balance her commitments to tennis as well as to schoolwork.
“Being a student-athlete is hard,” she said. “Harker has put me through the ringer, not in a bad way, but in a way that I feel like I’m ready for whatever happens in college.”
Sahana Srinivasan (12) admires Lizzie’s commitment to her academics, a trait that was noticeable as early as third grade.
“We were in the same science class,” Sahana said. “And I remember there was this project, like a report on an animal or something, that I didn’t want to do, but it was Lizzie who inspired me to try really hard. And at first, it was literally just because I was super jealous of her handwriting, like it was really bubbly and really — like honestly, in retrospect — adorable. She was like really dedicated to it, and that just got me so much more into it.”
Fast forward nine years to senior year, and Lizzie still brings the same work ethic to her classes.
“She’ll casually be like, ‘Oh yeah, I just went into extra help twice to get revisions on that essay,’ or ‘Yeah, I only spent like six hours on that project,’” Sahana said. “She kind of brushes off the amount of dedication and work and true caring she puts into everything from tennis to schoolwork to spending time with friends.”
Lizzie is also known among her friends for her compassion, support and lightheartedness. Her friend Jessica Wang (12) remarked that despite being so serious about school and tennis, Lizzie laughs about things pretty easily, even at her own expense.
“Once we were walking through a parking lot, and she hit her head really hard on the side mirror of a car,” Jessica said. “She just got up and kept laughing, even though her cheek was starting to become red… We crack each other up a lot, but we’re also really supportive of each other.”
According to Sahana, Lizzie radiates positivity.
“No matter what we’re doing, like if we’re slogging through work at lunch or hanging out, she’s always super upbeat,” Sahana said. “The word ‘bubbly’ defines her so accurately, everything from her handwriting to the tone of her voice to the fact that she always smiles and smiles genuinely. She always makes you feel more upbeat, is ready to help you out or cheer you up, or just laugh with you.”
Additional reporting by Humans of Harker managing editor Melissa Kwan.
