![“[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: Eric Andrus chronicles relationships through art
“I like making my art because it’s a method of expressing yourself,” Eric Andrus (12) said. “Being that I was quiet kid for the first 15 years of my life, art was a way I could speak. It was almost like a language to me. Because I am taking AP Studio Art, we have to do a concentration on our works, which is when there is a theme behind all the pieces. My theme is rhythmic motion, which represents a passage of time, so like growth and decay. Through time, relationships are formed and they grow and then they decay. Through all the challenges in life that I have been faced with, I’ve formed relationships and others have been broken, but I think the overall theme that is there is always something there and there is always something to be happy about.”
May 30, 2018
Every Sunday, Eric Andrus (12) can be found working at Lutticken’s, a sandwich shop located in Menlo Park. There, he spends his time making Tuna and Chicken Salad sandwiches, making drinks, cleaning, and most importantly interacting with customers, cracking jokes and making them laugh to have a good experience.
It hasn’t always been for Eric to step out his bubble, but his job has helped him become more extroverted.
“As a freshman, I came into high school very similar to how I was in middle school and lower school; very quiet and closed off,” he said. “I think I have come out of my bubble and I am more sociable and I think that comes from having a job where I have to talk with customers all the time and that pushed me forward a little bit.”
Although shy at first, Eric’s best friend Rishi Chopra (12) agrees that he has opened up over the four years.
“At first I thought he was really quiet and collected person but the more and more I got to know him, the closer we got,” Rishi said. “We have similar tastes in pretty much everything from food to music to video games, which is why I was able to connect with him pretty quickly and to be honest, I consider him like a brother more than a best friend because we’re just so close.”
Eric pushed himself to become more sociable interning at his dentist’s office, where he shadowed the doctor and learned about the field.
“[My dentist] has a lot of patients that are kids with physical and mental disabilities, and many have a fear of the dentist, so I had the job of helping [them],” he said. “My job was mostly observing, but when it was needed, I would help out with the patients. After the internship, I was definitely reassured that I wanted to be a dentist. I was sure about my passion for it.”
While becoming more open and extroverted, Eric’s art became a form of expression.
“Being that I was quiet kid for the first 15 years of my life, art was a way I could speak,” he said. “It was almost like a language to me.”
As a student in AP Studio Art, Eric chose to concentrate on rythmic motion.
“[It] represents a passage of time, so like growth and decay,” he said. “Through time, relationships are formed and they grow and then they decay. Through all the challenges in life that I have been faced with, I’ve formed relationships and others have been broken, but I think the overall theme that is there is always something there and there is always something to be happy about.”
As a very busy student, Eric makes sure to keep himself and his happiness in check.
“My family is the most important to me. We’re very close to each other,” he said. “My mom has had to do so much for me and my sister. She’s had to get us to where we are today, so I feel like the most I can do for her now is show love and affection towards her. I keep her close to keep her happy and myself happy.”
His mother, Alanna Andrus, loves who Eric is and has become as a person.
“We are a close-knit family. He is very honest and open about what’s going on, and he’s close with all of us. I love that he is a sweet as he is and he’s true to his person and is honest and if he has anything on his mind, he’ll let you know. “
As high school has come to and end, Eric reflected on his four years and personal growth.
“The biggest challenge I’ve overcome is my personal bubble thing and I’m really proud of myself for becoming more sociable and friendly to people,” he said.
