![“[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)
Going once… going twice… sold! The annual fashion show is not complete without the live auction following the evening show.
This year’s packages are very diverse, including unique sports activities, dream vacations, and one-of-a-kind opportunities at school functions.
“The items are very very exciting […] It’s definitely going to be a lot of fun.” Tere Aveces said before the event.
Aveces was in charge of the auction and compiled the donated packages after communicating with donors. She thinks highly of the benefits that the auction has for the school.
“[I like] How the community gets together to raise funds for the kids,” Aveces said. “The whole campaign is cool.”
One of the donors, Srini Madala, who contributed two of the 13 packages thinks that the show is a great way to display talents separate from academics and donated to give back to the community.
“We felt it was one way we could contribute to Harker […] Just to pay back for the kind of things [the school] do[es] for us,” Madala said.
According to Aveces, bidders know where the money is going to go to the improvement of the school and spend accordingly.
Prices of auction items ran from $1000 to the most expensive item of the night “Strike A Pose….Live and in Print” for $5100. Other top offers went for $5000 including a seven night stay for four on Lake Tahoe and a week in Waikiki over winter break 2012.
“I love the energy in the room.” Molly Wolfe (11) said about the auction.
Molly, whose family won the trip to Waikiki, felt that supporting the school was the major part of the decision to participate, versus simply purchasing a trip.
