![“[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)
The wide variety of phone cases around campus ranges from plain, neutral colors to eye-catching flashy designs. But what does a phone case reveal about its owner? Aside from protecting phones, phone cases are an outlet for their owners’ creativity. Each case displays its user’s interests and preferences, making it a small yet meaningful form of self-expression amidst the buzz of everyday life.
Anna Wang’s (10) phone case was handmade by her friend, who took inspiration from Anna’s favorite Sanrio character, My Melody. Decorated with flowers on the border and a My Melody charm in the center, the bright phone case never fails to cheer her up.
“It was a Christmas gift from my friend because they know I like [My Melody] and also pink,” Anna said. “It’s probably my favorite [phone case] because my friend made it for me.”
Unlike Anna’s complex phone case, Kuga Pence’s (12) clear case displays items that bring back memories with friends. Along with Pokémon cards, Kuga also saves his Polaroids inside his phone case.
“I kind of like revisiting and reminiscing with my friends over what we used to do in elementary school,” Kuga said. “Pokemon cards are something we always come back to. When we’re bored, we’ll just go to Target, pick a pack and open it together. I just kept it with me to remember that.”
Some prioritize the memories or sentiment behind their phone cases; however, others are attracted to its pattern. Isabelle Niu (9) bought her phone case from China, finding its design of a cartoon figure sitting on a toilet funny.
“Complex phone cases are really fuzzy and they have a bunch of keychains,” Isabella said. “I feel like it’s too much of a hassle to bring around. This one’s simple but it’s also very nice. I think it’s really fun, and every time I look at it it makes me smile.”
Although his clear case may seem simple, Kuga believes that it offers more flexibility due to its transparency. Phone cases reflect their owners’ personalities, providing an insight into their character. As phone cases are frequently associated with special memories, their sentimental value makes them more than just a protective accessory.
“Sometimes, I’ll have too many photos,” Kuga said. “I have to reset it because I can’t put the case on and it gets so full. With the clear phone case, I think it grows with you.”
