![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)
Freshmen council elected with new voting, leadership system
Newly elected freshman class council member Kris Estrada (9) addresses his class at freshman election speeches on Monday. This freshman class inaugurated a new system of elections in which students voted for general class representatives as opposed to specific positions.
November 9, 2019
Inaugurating a new system of student leadership, the results of the freshmen student council election were announced today, naming Alexander Lan, Kris Estrada, Michelle Jin, Rupert Chen and Zubin Khera as members of the council. Freshmen voted following candidates’ speeches during class meetings on Monday and Tuesday.
A new leadership and voting system allowed students to vote for their top five candidates from the 18 running, who will then participate in a general council free of positions such as president and treasurer.
Anthony Silk, the chair of the Honor Council, which organizes voting methods, accredits this change to a more equal approach to voting and leadership.
“Especially in the freshman year, the students aren’t really set on ‘I know what a treasurer does, and therefore, I want to be the treasurer.’ In general, the council should work as a collective,” he said. “Only one of the [best candidates] can be on the council. Don’t you want the 2 best people to be on the council?”
The new system also seeks to prevent previous members of the council from having an advantage over new students.
Students have different opinions on this new system. Candidate Rupert Chen (9) believes that the system has its benefits and flaws.
“I think that it’s an interesting experiment. I know that it’s to try to help new kids have a better say. I’m not sure if it’ll work out, but it’s worth a try,” he said. “I kind of worry that if people just have five people to choose for, they’ll choose the five kids that they know best.”
Sara Wan (9), a candidate who joined Harker at the beginning of the year, has similar concerns.
“For the people voting and for the candidates, it’s a lot harder since instead of only competing against the people in your category or position, you’re competing against everyone, so you have to encompass all the traits instead of only the traits you’re specializing in,” she said.
