![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: No joke has bullets as a punchline
November 6, 2019
A threat is never a joke.
In the downstairs Dobbins boys’ bathroom this morning, an as-yet-unidentified student graffitied two lines from a J. Cole song: “I’m counting my bullets / I’m loading my clips.” They added a third: “Don’t come to school tomorrow.”
That threat led to the following actions: a call to the police, an on-campus police visit, a mandatory meeting at 2:45 p.m. to alert the community and afterward, our dazed student community coming to terms, often for the first times in our young lives, with our own mortality.
In the wake of such a threat, everyone needs to make their own choices about their safety.
If you feel comfortable, come to school tomorrow. There will be more officers, more precautions and more security throughout the next week.
But your safety must be your first priority. A gun threat — no matter its intention — should be taken seriously. Feeling safe, especially physically safe, takes precedence over any homework assignment, project, or obligation. If you feel uncomfortable coming to school, you should absolutely feel justified in making that decision.
An event like this reverberates throughout our school, and it’s important to recognize that our fellow students, teachers and community are all going through the same emotions — distress, anger, fear. So support each other. Talk to a friend, rant, vent. Check in, and show that you care.
To whoever did this: if this was intended as a jest, it didn’t work. No one is laughing with you. This is not a game for anyone.
If internal difficulties motivated you to do this, the upper school community is here for you. But inflicting damage upon anyone, whether psychological or physical, will not resolve anything.
Instead, reach out. Whether it be your friends, or a counselor, or any adult you are comfortable with, reach out — with something other than the barrel of a gun.
Susan Nace • Nov 6, 2019 at 3:51 pm
Lady Gaga speaks directly regarding her own experiences from her early years. She says, ‘Tell” your pain to someone you trust rather than “show” your pain through violence to yourselves or others.”
This has been difficult for many in our community, many of whom have been affected by violence in their lives.
I offer this as a benediction for today,
Here is a benediction for today:
May our presence today be a testament to our determination to seek healing for all and to stand against the unkindnesses that inflict so much harm.
May our experiences be a towering presence of light, love, courage, and healing in this space and time.