![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)
Behind the counter at Joe Coffee in New York City
March 18, 2023
NEW YORK — Behind the counter at Joe Coffee in New York City
Location: 2950 Broadway Pulitzer Hall, New York NY 10027
Abel Alvarez, Joe Coffee Barista: Our co-founder Jonathan Rubinstein, he started off a small coffee shop at the Waverly Place. in Greenwich Village. He saw this small location and he envisioned it to be a welcoming and quality coffee shop.
Alvarez: I’m currently a barista. I’ve been a barista for about eight months with Joe Coffee shop. It’s been really good. I love my coworkers. I love coming in and making people happy in the morning, getting good coffees. Once school is in session, so it’s very busy. We like to call it “waves” of customers that come in and out. There’s a lot of people that come in and just study and they sit and do group work and everything. It’s constantly moving and working and bringing out coffee.
Annie McManus, customer: We came to Joe’s coffee because we’re looking at the campus for my son, who’s going to be a freshman here next year. It’s very bright and sunny. It’s a nice place to study. It’s pretty. This coffee is very good. It is good. I will come back to Joe’s coffee and get a latte again.
Alvarez: Everybody helps out. This is like a whole family here in Columbia, especially. We have three locations that we rotate and everybody knows each other and everybody helps each other as well.
![Student creations sit on a wall in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center. “[Stripe Club] creates a fun sense of community,” Christina Rex (11) said.“It almost gives [me] purpose when I get ready every morning. [I think], I know what color is gonna happen today, I can dress up for it.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/stripe-1-475x244.jpeg)
