![“[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)
Sen. Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign, making Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee for president
Presidential Hopeful Bernie Sanders raises concerns about economic injustices. He pledged to combat large corporations if elected president.
April 8, 2020
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.T.) announced that he would be suspending his Democratic presidential campaign via a video livestreamed on his website this morning.
Sanders’ exit clears the way for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to become the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in the 2020 general election. Currently trailing Biden by 303 delegates, Sanders suffered defeats in crucial primary states like Michigan and Florida.
“I think you know the truth,” Sanders said in the livestream announcing his campaign suspension this morning. “That is that we are now some 300 delegates behind Vice President Biden, and the path toward victory is virtually impossible. So while we are winning the ideological battle, and while we are winning the support of so many young people and working people throughout the country, I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful.”
Sanders also said that he would remain on the ballot in states with upcoming primaries, allowing him to gather more delegates and influence the Democratic Party’s platform.
Biden and President Donald Trump have since responded to Sanders’ announcement. In a statement, Biden recognized the work of Sanders and his supporters in “chang[ing] the dialogue in America” and affirmed his commitment to representing them. In a tweet, Trump attributed Sanders’ loss of some Super Tuesday states to former presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and encouraged Sanders supporters to join the Republican Party.
Since announcing his bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination in February 2019, Sanders has maintained the same principles of his 2016 bid against Hillary Clinton, furthering his “political revolution” as a democratic socialist and pushing for progressive platforms on issues like income inequality and climate change.
Sander’s policies like Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and cancellation of all existing student debt earned him support among young people and working class voters. While he won early primaries in New Hampshire, Nevada and California, he suffered a string of losses to Biden in southern and midwestern states.
Sanders, who has served as an independent senator from Vermont since 2007, was previously the mayor of Burlington, VT for seven years and a congressional representative for 16 years.
Harker Aquila called Sanders’ senate offices in Burlington, Vt.; St. Johnsbury, Vt.; and Washington, D.C. but was unable to receive a statement regarding the campaign’s suspension.
Alaska and Wyoming will hold their Democratic primaries on Friday. Both states have canceled in-person voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are accepting ballots by mail.
