![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)
Incoming high schoolers had a chance to bond and prepare for the upcoming school year on Saturday, August 25 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. during Gym Jam.
An annual event for students of all grade levels, Gym Jam allows the chance to plan and test spirit based activities that will occur throughout the year, while also giving students the opportunity to see friends and welcome new freshmen before school starts.
“We try to mix up the groups at Gym Jam so that there are freshmen and new kids in every group along with some of our spirit board members and student council members,” spirit co-president Nicholas Chuang (12) said.
In addition to playing games, students also had the opportunity to break off into their individual grades and discuss class spirit.
“It’s kind of a nice way for everybody to meet on a non-academic day and get to play and goof around and have Mr. Keller barbecue for us,” Activities Coordinator Kerry Enzensperger said. “It’s just a day of fun. It’s a nice way to begin the school year.”
According to Nicholas, some of the games played at Gym Jam this year included tag, conquest, and a form of water polo which may be a spirit event later this year.
While the games change every year, a major alteration to Gym Jam this year is that it is no longer an overnight event. Enzensperger said that many students were unable to attend due to the fact that the sleepover was right before school started. Whereas Gym Jam previously started at six, hosting the event from two to 10 also allows more sunlight for outdoor activity. Additionally, spirit co-president Andre Tran (12) said that having the event during the day facilitates the job for teacher chaperones, since they are usually preparing for the upcoming school year.
“Since [Gym Jam is] the weekend before school starts, the sleepover was kind of hard to do because everyone got tired before school started, so I guess this is just a better way to hang out and get together with friends you haven’t seen for a while,” said Gym Jam veteran and spirit member Keri Clifford (12).
Freshmen and first time Gym Jam attendee Rachel Renteria agreed with Keri, but for different reasons.
“I met new people which I think is honestly a good thing for me,” she said. “I think the day thing is good [if] you don’t really know anyone.”
According to Enzensperger, the reaction to this change has been generally positive and more people showed up this year in comparison to previous years.
