![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
Editorial: We are not “the enemy of the people”
Jin Tuan and Daniel Wu
September 3, 2018
What would America look like without the press?
At first, this question seems too far-fetched to merit consideration. America is a country founded on the freedom of the press, which is not only an intrinsic aspect of our culture but also a fundamental right enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— Constitution of United States of America
And yet, the actions of our current president bring that very question to the foreground of national attention.
President Donald Trump has continuously attacked the media as “fake news.” In August, Trump called the majority of the press the “enemy of the American people,” and in July, Trump supporters shouted “CNN Sucks” at a Trump rally in Tampa, Florida.
So far, that campaign strategy seems to be working. Trump appeals to to the human instinct to dismiss difficult truths rather than to confront them, to antagonize journalists rather than to listen to them. Denial is, after all, an easier path to take.
It isn’t, however, the path of progress.
As journalists, our role is to be the truth-bearers. Our position is that of the watchdog for the people, not the enemy of the people.
And as Harker students ourselves, we care about this community just as much as you do. Our job on this campus is to dispel rumors and bring awareness to the stories that need to be told. We bring light to the important issues that we, as students and citizens of the world alike, must confront by providing timely news and credible information.
Our staff includes students from all corners of this campus—artists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, scientists—which only further ensures our diversity and an accurate representation of all viewpoints.
In return, we also work to honor the members of our community, students, teachers and faculty alike, through Humans of Harker and the Meet Your Teacher Feature series, among other projects.
At the end of the day, it’s still unclear as to whether Trump’s words will truly have an effect in the political realm. We also don’t know if it’s changing the way our readers view Harker Aquila. Yet, today, we continue to ask for our readers’ support because we maintain an important position in Harker’s history. And, we hope you care enough about this community to realize that, too.
