The ball flies through the air, perfectly aimed towards the setter’s position. Even before the set is passed, the outside hitter makes his approach. As the ball begins to descend just over the net, he jumps in perfect form, his right arm cocked back to deliver a devastating spike. With lightning speed, Vishnu Kannan (12) strikes the ball, slamming it into the opponents’ court before they can react. As he lands, the intensity of his hit transitions into a fierce celebratory double fist pump before he prepares for the next point, welcomed by the cheers and praise of his teammates.

Despite his normally reserved disposition off the volleyball court, Vishnu takes on a different personality when finishing off a kill or setting up a block. Whether playing for his club Bay to Bay or as captain of the varsity boys volleyball team, Vishnu utilizes his own energy to motivate his teammates.

“I’m definitely a lot more expressive [in volleyball],” Vishnu said. “I’m really into the game. A big part of volleyball is bringing energy, getting your teammates going, celebrating when you do well and moving on to the next point when you make a mistake. It’s a part I’ve really embraced, and it’s helped me become more extroverted even off the court.”

Vishnu’s height and jumping power give him an advantage over other players on the court, and he effectively uses his strength to overpower blockers. His athletic feats along with his constant encouragement of his teammates often earn him praise from his opponents.

“Vishnu has worked hard and put in the effort in volleyball, and it clearly translates to our school team,” teammate Raymond Xu (12) said. “He’s become not only the main hitter, but also a great teammate. He’s so good that sometimes he even gets compliments from the opposing team. Vishnu never has anything negative to say and is always ready to place the team on his shoulders and make you feel included.”

Even when he’s not competing in games, Vishnu experiences the thrill of sports by following the San Francisco 49ers throughout the football season and covering professional and school sports through journalism. As the managing editor and sports editor of Aquila, Vishnu aims to highlight the feats of the athletics program as a whole.

“In general, from outside Harker, there’s a perception that sports is a weak point or that we don’t have a great athletics program,” Vishnu said. “Being in Harker as an athlete and as part of the school, you do see how successful we are. So, through journalism, from live coverage to APEX profiles, I’ve tried to spotlight our amazing athletes.”

While some may view sports as trivial competitions, Vishnu appreciates the value of approaching societal issues through the lens of sports. From covering professional athlete activism to displaying inequalities that permeate national sports leagues, he aims to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable through well-sourced articles on the real world implications of sports. Vishnu points to an article on racial disparity in NFL coaching as one of the most meaningful pieces he has worked on in his high school journalistic career.

“If you look at most of the work that I’ve done in journalism, it’s a lot of straightforward information like briefs and profiles, mostly lighthearted stuff,” Vishnu said. “This was a more serious topic where I had to be more conscious of my tone and the way I was phrasing sentences. Taking on that challenge was fun, and I had a lot of fulfilling conversations with Coach Powers and Brian [Pinkston] (‘21) that were really memorable.”

As part of the strategic team in journalism, Vishnu builds off his own experiences to help his fellow students with articles and deadlines. Even when breaking news occurs, Vishnu quickly adapts to the situation and efficiently organizes the reporters to capture the event in a timely fashion.

“Vishnu is always on top of things,” Mark Hu (12), Vishnu’s fellow managing editor, said. “Whenever there’s something I need, I know he’s always willing to help in any way he can. Whenever I see Vishnu talking to the reporters, he always seems composed and in control of the situation at hand.”

Vishnu’s helpful nature extends into his everyday classes as well. Using his aptitude for grasping difficult concepts, Vishnu is willing to work with others and explain the thought process he employs to find solutions.

Inspired by his family’s history with teaching, Vishnu continues to bring out the best in others by becoming a model for them to follow. No matter where he is or what team he is a part of, Vishnu emerges as a leader, guiding his teammates along the path towards success.

“I come from a family of teachers,” Vishnu said. “While growing up, I admired the way [my relatives] were able to approach new subjects and convey that knowledge to their students. I’ve taken on that role of teaching, not in conventional ways, but by embracing leadership roles in volleyball and journalism. Whether it’s taking reporters under my wing or leading underclassmen by example, I’ve mentor[ed] others by sharing what I’ve learned through my own experiences.”

One lesson that Vishnu himself learned is the importance of staying connected to the people he interacts with. As he looks toward the future, Vishnu plans to maintain the close relationships he formed with the people around him, connections that have shaped him into the person he is now.

“I love being in team environments where you get to know people,” Vishnu said. “With volleyball, playing aside the same group of teammates, getting to know them on the court and being friends off it makes you want to stay in touch and hang out. For journalism, you can feel how close the returners are. We know each other and we love being around each other. I’ll always do my best to keep talking with people to preserve the relationships I’ve formed over the past four years.”