![“[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)
Sophomores and juniors enjoy ropes course, rafting to start the new year
High up in the treetops, a member of the class of 2021 grips a rope for support during the sophomores’ ropes course trip in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Aug. 23. The classes of 2020 and 2021 participated in off-campus trips on Aug. 23.
August 31, 2018
Juniors whitewater raft
The class of 2020 traveled to OARS American River Output in Coloma, California, for the annual junior class rafting trip on Aug. 23. Students split into groups of six to eight and cruised down the American River, paddling through class one, two and three whitewater rapids. Each boat was led by a rafting instructor who guided the rafters down the river.
Rafters assembled in front of the Rothschild Performing Arts Center at approximately 6:10 a.m. to depart in four buses on a three-hour drive to OARS. They then attended an instructional session before walking down to the river and boarding the rafts.
After the rafting trip, which traversed approximately 12 river miles, the students and junior advisers had a quick dinner before driving back to the upper school campus, arriving at approximately 8 p.m.
Sophomores tackle ropes course
Meanwhile, the class of 2021 kicked off the school year by traveling to the Santa Cruz Mountains to take part in the annual sophomore class ropes course trip.
Participants split into multiple groups; each went to a different location. In the forests there, the sophomores took on various challenges testing their strength, skill and balance. Participants could traverse ropes course elements such as the Giant’s Ladder, a gigantic rope ladder with rungs separated by several feet, and the Leap of Faith off a tall platform, while their advisories cheered them on from below.
As the juniors and sophomores embarked on their class trips off campus, the freshmen enjoyed a field day on Davis Field and seniors had no events scheduled before matriculation on Aug. 24.
This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on Aug. 31, 2018.
