![“[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)
A soulful message delivered through song. A passionate speech connecting A.I. to the struggles of today’s youth. A calming orchestra ensemble and uplifting choir performance. These were only some of the various acts performed at Harker’s first MLK Evening Celebration, with the wide range of numbers in the setlist reflecting the event’s message of diversity.
The MLK Evening Celebration was held in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center on Jan. 19. The event followed the same week’s Monday MLK Day of service in which more than 430 Harker students and faculty participated. Brian Davis, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion considered the week “MLK Week,” with the Evening Celebration ending off five days of homage to Dr. King’s legacy.
Throughout the two-hour runtime, performers graced the Patil Theater’s stage with a variety of acts. Student Diversity Coalition (SDC) representatives Elie Ahluwalia (10) and Ariana Gauba (11) introduced each performance. Paying homage to MLK’s message of diversity, community and inclusion, acts ranged from musical performances to thought-provoking onstage interviews. Other performances included a choreographed dance and a spoken and sung performance by singer and songwriter Denzel Fields.
Davis and Head of School Brian Yager opened with introductions to the event and reflections on inclusion and diversity in the modern day. To begin the show, Fern Biswas (11) performed the first act of the evening with “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“I have a lot to think about, to ponder,” audience member Letitia Burton said. “I have to do some more thinking, just reflecting on who Dr. King was. You know, separating the mythology of Doctor King and looking more at the reality, looking at Dr. King as a man and not as a symbol.”
To end the evening, Dr. Michael Dyson took the stage. A professor at Vanderbilt University, Dyson has authored various books about social rights like Political Correctness: The Munk Debates, a book that discusses how political correctness impacts free speech. Dyson spoke about the impact of Dr. King on the community’s everyday lives both critically and positively.
“Speaking before the Harker school about Dr. King was amazing,” Dyson said. “I felt so warmly received. I didn’t have to try to explain stuff that people were hostile to. They’re extremely progressive, aware, and committed to thinking out loud, about difficult subjects and circumstances and ideas, and I felt quite at home.”
Though the first of its kind at Harker, this celebration of Dr. King is not Davis’s first, having organized similar celebrations at other schools in the past. However, he considers this year’s event a larger project than previous efforts, having started planning in summer of last year.
“Our community is really open for these types of events and opportunities,” Davis said. “I wanted to do something that brought together many areas of the Harker community. I wanted to have different performances that really showcased the different aspects of Dr. King’s life through spoken word, through performance.”
From its speeches to dances to spoken-word acts, the event’s showcases allowed vulnerability, unafraid to shine a light on political stances and disappointment in current conflicts in the world.
“It’s great to see somebody [like Dr. Dyson] who is still passionate and dedicated to [the cause],” Lower School Divisional head Debra Cope said. “Even though we think we know so much about life and history, when we keep ourselves open as Dr. Dyson said; when we listen, we can learn so much more.”
