![“[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)
Each year new students join the community and perpetuate the diversity of passions, experiences, and aspirations flourishing on campus. Reflecting on their first month of attending the Upper School, sophomores and juniors share their backgrounds and their stories of adjusting to a new environment.
With a handful of new sophomores on campus, students may have noticed the unfamiliar face of DeVonte Smith (10) in the hallways, during lunch, or at football games. This summer, he moved from Pennsylvania to California to join the Upper School.
DeVonte attended Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh for one year, before his guardian chose to move out. At that point, he decided to come to the Upper School because he considered it “a better school.” He admitted that the change in schools has definitely been a challenge.
“[The transition] is pretty hard, but I like this school,” he said. “It’s a nice school, and I like the community and the people in it.”
When asked about major differences between his old school and the Upper School, DeVonte quickly noted one thing: the Honor Code.
“These kids actually follow the Honor Code,” he said. “At my other school, if I leave my bag anywhere [and] look for it [within] the next five minutes, it is already gone.”
Additionally, DeVonte noticed a difference in the availability of teachers.
“I find the teachers a lot more helpful,” he said. “They are actually here to help you succeed in life. Usually, in my free time here, I am studying.”
A current running back of the Varsity football team, DeVonte recently helped contribute to the team’s victory in the game against Los Altos High School on October 13; he made 14 rushes for 160 yards, 10 solo tackles, and one touchdown.
“It is like everybody [on the team] is a family,” he said. “Everybody is successful, and everybody works hard for it.”
Although DeVonte does not plan to play any other sports, he is considering joining other clubs and activities, including Harker Business Club (HBC), as he becomes more integrated with the community.
