![“[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)
Each year new students join the community and perpetuate the diversity of passions, experiences, and aspirations flourishing on campus. Reflecting on their first month of attending the Upper School, sophomores and juniors share their backgrounds and their stories of adjusting to a new environment.
A new eagle has landed on the Upper School campus.
Christian Williams is one of the few new juniors who joined the Upper School this year. Over the first few months of school, he has integrated into the community and student life by making many friends and joining the football team to pursue one of his favorite pastimes.
“I’m really committed to the football team,” Christian said. “I have set both personal and team goals, and [I hope to] help the team get to our most important goal, which is 10 [wins] and 0 [losses] and make this a season that our seniors and the rest of the team would never forget.”
Yet Christian, who attended Valley Christian Dublin High School last year, did not transfer to a new school just for the athletics. He says that he came to the Upper School for his academics as well and considers his life as a student just as important as his athletic endeavors.
“I saw the school as a great opportunity for me as a student as well as an athlete. I’m here to study just as much as I am to play football,” he said.
Among football practice, school work, and his three hour round-trip commute to Dublin every day, Christian does not have much time to himself. Whenever he has free time, he likes to relax, hang out with his friends, and long board with them.
Christian has had an easy transition to the Upper School and enjoys being a part of the community. He especially likes some of the unique aspects of the Upper School that he says were not as prominent at his previous school.
“[I love] how nice and relaxed the campus and everyone is, and how it’s a big community at Harker,” he said. “Everyone is really helpful, so it’s a great school to be at.”
So if you see an unfamiliar face running from Shah Hall to the football field with a textbook in one hand and a football in the other, it is probably Christian Williams.
