![“[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)
Around 250 students and faculty attended the Spirit Kickoff on Sept. 1. The event took place in the Quad from 3:30-5 p.m. and featured boardwalk-themed activities to inaugurate another year of Harker spirit.
Harker Leadership Spirit Team (HSLT) planned and organized activities around the Quad like a coin toss for a candy prize, a splash zone game in which participants threw wet sponges at teachers, a watermelon-eating contest and a mechanical surfboard. Additionally, HSLT served shaved ice cones and popcorn.
“I think that high school is a really fun time in everybody’s life,” said upper school Learning, Innovation and Design Director Diane Main, who participated in the splash zone. “Often, kids at our school are being so serious about their schoolwork or their academics that they’re not getting the most out of high school in terms of the spirit and the activities that are not academic. [I do] as much as I can [to] encourage that and be a part of it.”
Other activities included a guessing game for a jar of candy, a hoop throw for plastic ducks and cornhole. Students could also spin a wheel to earn prizes such as candy or a high five. Sara Glusman (11) won the unique prize of dressing up Head of Upper School Paul Barsky.
“[Spirit Kickoff has been a] 10 out of 10,” HSLT Vice President Daniel Chen (11) said. “Last year, people started to leave around 4, 3:50, even though [the event] was already phenomenal. This year, [at] 4 o’clock we started planning to clean up, but people [were] still here. It’s a good team this year.”
In preparation for the annual Homecoming Week eagle painting, each class covered last year’s eagle designs with white paint. Once grades receive their themes in October, they will decorate the blank eagles with new designs. Student Activities Board (SAB) Representative Harshini Chaturvedula (12), who helped paint the eagles during Spirit Kickoff as well as last year’s Spirit Week, looks forward to the year of spirit ahead and remains determined for her class to win the spirit competition for the second year in a row.
“It was so nice to see everyone come out and have fun,” Harshini said. “Seeing all the [frosh] who came out was amazing since we’re seeing another generation keep up with our [traditions]. Overall, it was a great start to spirit for this year.”
