![“[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)
Film Club officers picked a to-be-titled drama by Sophie Pellet (10) for their second film production in English teacher Christopher Hurshman’s room during lunch on Monday.
This is the second year that Film Club selected a movie idea pitched by a club member. The club will help the club member film and send the film to film festivals. During the meeting, Sophie presented her screenplay to the club and submitted a screenplay draft to Film Club co-president Ethan Guan (11). Once he accepted the proposal, members passed the laptop around the room and read it over.
After club members selected Sophie’s film for production, they went over scenes in the screenplay and signed up for roles they were interested in. Film club officers recruited potential actors, crew members and extras. Club member Samaara Patil (9) signed up for all three options and discussed some of her goals in the filmmaking process.
“I’m excited,” Samaara said. “I think it will be a fun thing, especially because a lot of my friends signed up. I’m really just hoping to be part of the production, be able to help with the finishing touches and see all the outcomes if this goes well.”
The selected production last year was another of Sophie’s films, the comedy “Not Your Average Superhero.” Sophie reflected on her decision to change direction from comedy to drama.
“The stakes are kind of lower when it’s a comedy,” Sophie said. “I’ve already done this before, so I felt more comfortable branching out to something a little bit more serious. When writing something with very intense emotions, it’s very personal writing, and I don’t think I was willing to do that and share that last year.”
As the writer, Sophie will direct the film. Sophie and her editor Mendy Mao (10) are still editing the screenplay. The film will star a teenage boy named Max who gradually realizes his loneliness as his only friendship falls apart. Sophie also plans to put up audition posters around the upper school campus once the screenplay is complete.
Two years ago, Sydney Ling (12), Edis Mesic (12) and Ethan made the short film selection possible when they jointly started the Film Club. Ethan proposed the selection and oversees the filming process. He commented on founding Film Club and on his visions for the club going forward.
“I started the club because there wasn’t a film club at Harker,” Ethan said. “At such a prestigious institution, we’re not covering this amazing form of artistic expression — come on! Last year, it went I think as good as a young club could go. We made one film, had a couple of meetings. This year, we’re planning to do things on a bigger scale.”
