![“[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)
Humans of Harker: Setting connections
Emily Cheng (12) explores the world through RV travel and volleyball
“Volleyball has taught me a lot of discipline in that since middle school, I’ve grown in a team environment so that there’s this team culture of everyone always trying their hardest and maintaining high expectations for everyone around them. There’s also a sense that we won’t let each other down in terms of effort and drive. I’ve definitely dedicated a lot more time and it has become my main sport and main activity so in terms of skill, I’ve definitely developed a lot, but through volleyball I’ve learned a lot of maturity and dedication,” Emily Cheng (12) said.
From a young age, Emily Cheng (12) had wanted a dog. She recalls the process she went through in order to get one. In eighth grade, she decided that she was ready to own a dog since she would be traveling less in high school. She did everything she could, including writing an essay and making a presentation for her parents complete with all the reasons their family should get a dog, and even started to reach out to breeders by herself.
Being proactive in her desire to get a dog is only one example of how ambitious and hardworking Emily is in persevering to get what she wants. Another place where her determination to succeed shows is in volleyball.
Starting on the varsity girls volleyball team in her freshman year, she feels that the team has grown a lot throughout her high school career, from not qualifying her freshman and sophomore year to winning Central Coast Section (CCS).
Aside from growing skill-wise, the sport has also helped her mature and grow mentally.
“Volleyball has taught me a lot of discipline in that since middle school, I’ve grown in a team environment so that there’s this team culture of everyone always trying their hardest and maintaining high expectations for everyone around them. There’s also a sense that we won’t let each other down in terms of effort and drive,” Emily said. “I’ve definitely dedicated a lot more time and it has become my main sport and main activity so in terms of skill, I’ve definitely developed a lot, but through volleyball I’ve learned a lot of maturity and dedication.”
Besides just playing the game and the lessons that volleyball has taught her, Emily also values the social aspect of the sport.
“My favorite part about volleyball is getting to know people from all across the world, like going to these USA high-performance camps over the summer,” she said. “I’m still in contact with people that I met in eighth grade, and they’re from South Carolina or Massachusetts. It’s really cool to stay in contact with these people who have such different backgrounds from me.”
Not only does she meet other kids from many different places, but she also connects with those around her and builds relationships.
“With volleyball I have created a community outside of school,” Emily said. “I’ve known people since sixth grade from playing on the same team since sixth grade. I get to travel with them and it’s a lot of fun.”
Volleyball tournaments are not the only time she gets to travel. Emily loves to explore and she often goes on trips with her family in their RV. Besides visiting different places such as Lake Tahoe, Carmel and Death Valley, traveling in this fashion also allows her to bond with her family.
“I think [RV traveling] is really unique just because it really confines my family into 25 feet of space, and it really forces us to trust each other and just to collaborate”
While traveling is generally relegated to breaks and long weekends, Emily finds other ways to step back from the pressures of everyday life and get into a good mood. One place she likes to go is Planet Granite, the climbing gym where she works.
“[Climbing is] just a really nice way for me to destress, and it’s nothing that I’m super competitive about, so I can let go and sweat it out,” Emily said.
Taking time to do things such as this and setting aside time for herself is something she values.
“I wish people cared more about their own well-being: mentally, emotionally and physically,” she said. “[It’s important to be] able to take a step back and reflect on your surroundings and really live in the moment rather than keep pushing toward some goal that is a month away or years away.”
Emily lives out this value, always living in the moment.
“She’s very chill,” friend Eileen Li (12) said. “She’s probably the most carefree person I know and she’s always down to go for a drive or something like that.”
Besides living in the moment, another core value she holds is honesty.
“If I ever need a friend’s opinion about practically anything, I’ll ask her for advice a lot of the time and she’ll give me her honest opinion,” friend Cynthia Chen (12) said. “I really trust her perspective.”
Emily explained her reasoning behind this value.
“I think it’s really important just to be true to yourself and also to be true to others just so that they know that you’re someone you can trust and always tell you the truth,” Emily said.
Irene Yuan (12) is the co-managing editor of Harker Aquila with a focus on multimedia and social media. This is her fourth year on staff, and she hopes...
Erica Cai (12) is the co-editor-in-chief of Humans of Harker, and this is her fourth year on staff. Her goals in journalism this year are to celebrate...