![“[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: Lauren Russell participates with intention
“I want to be remembered for being wise and kind, and I chose the word wise specifically because I don’t want to be remembered as smart,” Lauren Russell (12) said. “I want to be remembered as being able to look at a situation and react maturely, appropriately but also kindly based on what I know.”
May 3, 2018
According to Lauren Russell (12), puzzles and books are great ways to “not-think.”
“I really like puzzles, and not just like spread out puzzles on the board and make the picture, but a lot of other puzzle games, it is just something I always do,” she said. “I really like reading books that have very in depth world building and story line that make you think of different things because books can be an escape.”
Lauren’s friend Nastya Grebin (12) touts her dedication to finding creative solutions.
“When she’s playing a puzzle game on her phone [or] laptop, she will tune everything out and focus on that puzzle for however long it takes her to solve it,” Nastya said. “She won’t close it if it gets too difficult. Instead, she just spends more time thinking really hard on how to solve or pass the level. This might sound kind of small, but I think that it really shows who she is as a hard-working person.”
Meghana Karinthi (12) called Lauren “responsible, ethical and level-headed.”
“I can always rely on her for logical and honest advice in any situation, and I think that’s what has made her such an amazing friend,” Meghana said. “Lauren is also truly passionate about every activity she participates in, and I think that’s what makes what she does special. Whether it’s lacrosse or community service with her youth group, she always gives 100% and inspires those around her. Rather than looking for fame, she looks for joy, and in the end, that’s what allows her to be so successful in everything she does.”
While Lauren spends much of her free time playing lacrosse and tutoring young kids, she recently found some of that joy playing piano: an instrument she restarted after a hiatus of several years.
“It was kind of hard for me to say that there are six and seven year olds who are already better than me,” she said. “But swallowing my pride, I was proud of myself for doing that and that it wasn’t going to stop me from doing something new.”
Lauren also started playing lacrosse somewhat serendipitously — she joined after 8th grade P.E. As a senior captain on the varsity team, she’s embraced her role as the “team mom” along with the arm bruises that inevitably come with the sport.
“I try to really live by this phrase that my mom says a lot: ‘See a need, fill a need,’” Lauren said. “It is kind of just like a motto that says, ‘hey if you see something that needs to be done, go do it.’ Don’t say, ‘hey guys, we have got to do this,’ or ‘hey, can you go do that’ — you go and do that.”
More than anything, though, Lauren is committed to being there for her friends.
“She’s there to cheer you on when something fantastic happens in your life, but she’s also always there when something really tough hits you,” her friend Anastasia Cheplyansky (12) said. “She’s not there just to enjoy your good moments; she’s there to be your true friend. I really admire her sincerity and her confidence. She doesn’t really care what others think of her as long as she’s being the best version of herself and is happy with herself. She works really hard not for other people’s approval, but for her own.”
Lauren applies her earnest outlook in both the academic and non-academic areas in her life.
“I want to be remembered for being wise and kind, and I chose the word wise specifically because I don’t want to be remembered as smart,” she said. “I want to be remembered as being able to look at a situation and react maturely, appropriately but also kindly based on what I know.”
