![“[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)
Bouncing the ball three times before each serve. Drinking from the same water bottle every match. Wearing the same kneepads to each game, no matter how ripped and faded they become. Many athletes routinely engage in some form of superstition, from rituals as simple as uniform changes to extensive serving routines.
Girls varsity basketball’s co-captain Claire Miao (12) participates in one such tradition. Over the course of last year’s season, she adopted a pair of lucky socks.
“A lot of my teammates know this about me, but for every game [last] season, I wore these socks,” Claire said. “I just started wearing them at the beginning of the season, and then I started playing super well. I definitely think it helps me play, because I’ve been wearing them again, and I’ve been playing pretty well.”
Similarly, girls varsity volleyball player Norah Mehanna (11) developed several superstitions over her last two years on the team. Ranging from her choice of uniform to a particular pre-game snack, she believes they dictate her play for the day.
“I have these elbow pads that I wear, and if I don’t wear my black ones, then I’m gonna have a really bad practice, we’re not go[ing] do well and the game’s going to go bad,” Norah said. “My superstition is that black equals winning. Another one is … if I don’t have a Rice Krispie, I won’t perform at my best, and my team won’t perform at their best.”
While these quirks may appear ridiculous or arbitrary, they are rooted in well-documented sports psychology. Having as trivial a routine as always wearing the same uniform can help prepare a player for competition, since the competitive mindset becomes associated with the action. By constantly engaging in the habit, it serves as a cue that activates the right frame of mind under pressure. Boys varsity water polo player Oskar Baumgarte (11) describes how his lucky number prepares him for games.
“I have to wear the cap number three, or else we’ll lose,” Oskar said. “I always have to wear that cap, and it mentally prepares me for the game if I’m wearing my cap number.”
While some athletes adopt certain gear, others engage in team-wide rituals to prepare for matches. Boys varsity soccer player Ryder Hewitt (10) emphasizes how his team’s pre-game routine of blasting music in the locker room boosts their energy before each game.
“[Listening to music] gives us way more energy because we go straight from a long school day right into having to ramp up for a game,” Ryder said. “To listen to Playboi Carti screaming into the mic, to have that blasting through our speakers, means that…we’re starting to [think], ‘Okay, let’s get hyped. Let’s get ready for the game!’ ”
The oddity of certain rituals can help bring a team closer together. Whether it’s a group tradition or an individual quirk, unique superstitions help form common ground. Norah comments on how her choice of pre-game fuel has become a running joke within the girls varsity volleyball team.
“I definitely think [my superstitions] are all in my head,” Norah said. “But I feel like it’s something silly that we all can bond on. I’m always like: ‘where’s my Rice Krispie?’ It’s very important to the game, even though it’s just a Rice Krispie. It’s got to happen.”
