![“I wasn't discouraged by some of the obstacles we faced. I learned a lot from the leadership. I found that different people need different ways of receiving feedback — you can't [just] tell them to do something and expect the best. [Some] people needed more incentive. A large part of my role was to figure out what worked for everyone and to figure out how to lead all these separate individuals as a team,” Suhana Bhandare (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SuhanaBhandare_JasmineHansra-1-1200x798.jpg)
![“This is actually from Randy Pausch Randy P. Brick: ‘Walls are there for a reason. You have to show how much you want to overcome them.’ You have to show how much you want something. That's what I've always been able to do with tennis, Link Crew and getting that internship [with Kushy Baby]. It’s important pushing through that — getting around that brick wall, climbing over it or clawing through it,” Yash Sachdeva (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YashSachdeva_RamBatchu-copy-1200x1002.jpg)
![“[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)
Doing little bits of good every day
Custodian Johnny Lockett poses for a portrait at a table near Manzanita.
February 23, 2019
Whether he’s vacuuming the carpet of Main, mopping the floor of Manzanita or getting a ladder for a staff member who needs one, custodian Johnny Lockett is a familiar face to all who wander through Main’s hallways sometime after 2:30 pm.
Lockett was born in Louisiana and joined the military after he graduated from high school in 1979.
“When I was growing up, fifteen, maybe seventeen, I lived in an environment of fear. So I changed for the better as I graduated and went into the military. I said, ‘I’m not going back to fear. I’m going to move on with my life,’” Lockett said.
Lockett’s experience in the military had a long lasting effect on him, and the instincts it ingrained in him are still present today. When lightning struck a tree in the parking lot last year, Lockett immediately took cover and ushered other people to cover too.
“When I went into the military after I graduated out of high school in 1979, that changed my whole life around,” he said. “It lets me do what I do and be what I want to be, which is a man, what I am today.”
He began working at Harker roughly seven years ago, having been introduced to the job by his younger brother, one of the kitchen staff.
“I never had the experience being a custodian when I came to Harker,” Lockett said. “They trained me, and I love the job. This is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had in my life. It’s really worth it. I love getting up in the morning, working, being around faculty, staff and the kids. I love the environment.”
He shows his love for his job and the Harker community through his daily interactions with other faculty members. Every day when Lockett clocks in for work, he greets the teachers in Main and talks a bit with them.
“One of the things I look forward to in the day is when Johnny enters this building to get his afternoon work done.” Abel Olivas, Spanish teacher and department head of Modern and Classical languages, said. ”Usually he peeks in to my classroom, and we just have some fun chit-chat.”
At the end of the year faculty party, Lockett always takes pictures with his various friends and acquaintances throughout Main. Diana Moss, Spanish teacher, is one of these.
“The best thing about having him in our hallway is he always is friendly and positive and greets you with a big warm smile. He’s a really positive presence in our hallway.” Moss said. “He’ll do anything extra or above in terms of cleaning or procuring things that we need for the classroom.”
Lockett reaches for another spray bottle in his cart in Main after school on Feb. 8. Lockett has worked as a custodian at the upper school for seven years.
Lockett tries his best to support everyone, be they students or faculty, in as many ways as he can.
“When the GSA asked the community to wear red as part of National Coming Out Day, he came completely in red to support the LGBT community. And if we have fundraisers, either GSA or Spanish NHS, he always buys something from us, because he’s very good about wanting to support the kids and their efforts here.”
Sometimes, Lockett spends his Saturday working at the Japanese school in Blackford. When working with the kids there, Lockett hopes to be seen as a role model.
“They see me walking down the hallways here doing the trash and someone says, ‘Hey, that guy really inspired me. I’m gonna try to be like him.’ Kids look up to you when you do good work. They thank you, and that makes you want to do more. You want to please the teachers and the students if you work at the Harker school. That’s my main goal.“
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on February 20, 2019.
