![“[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)
Class pets add a dimension of fun
English teacher Alexandra Rosenboom keeps rats Tyrone and Clarissa as classroom pets. In addition to chameleons, geckos, and tarantulas, animals on campus provide unique elements to the classroom.
A lone being sits in Nichols Hall, blinking quietly as early-arriving students and faculty members trickle into the Atrium in the morning. It shifts slightly from the position it has settled down in, expecting its morning meal: a live cricket.
From its perch in the Atrium, the veiled chameleon is among several animals that serve as pets around campus, ranging from baby crested geckos to avicularia versicolor tarantulas.
The chameleon in the Atrium is not the only one of its kind; its female counterpart is under the care of chemistry teacher Dr. Smriti Koodanjeri, who offered to adopt one when chemistry teacher Andrew Irvine’s original chameleon gave birth to around 50 babies. To take care of the pet, Dr. Koodanjeri makes sure the light in its cage is on each morning and gives its water. Every other day, Irvine brings sustenance in the form of crickets sprinkled with calcium.
Dr. Koodanjeri believes that keeping animals as classroom pets adds to the learning environment.
“Having an animal in the classroom is really beneficial to some of the kids, especially the quieter ones. They love to interact with the animals, so sometimes we take them out and we play with them,” she said.
Irvine’s passion for acquiring and raising animals has made him the supplier of chameleons to many teachers around campus.
Besides the chameleons, Irvine keeps several tarantulas at school, as well as a scorpion that spawned at the beginning of the year.
“I go through spurts of interest in animals,” Irvine said. “Sometimes it’s good that I have my wife around because she’s the voice of reason, otherwise I’d probably have a Noah’s ark at my house.”
While Irvine has arachnids and reptiles, warm-blooded animals can be found in English teacher Alexandra Rosenboom’s room. She houses two rats, Tyrone and Clarissa.
“Last year was really tough for a lot of people, with a lot of emotionally challenging distractions, so I thought it would be nice to have a joyful distraction instead,” Rosenboom said.
The rats, both female, have been in the classroom for about eight months.
“I think the rats are really cool,” Safia Khouja (10) said. “It makes the classroom cozier and warmer.”
To many students and faculty alike, class pets add another interactive dimension to the classroom.
Kacey Fang (12) is the Managing Editor for The Winged Post. She has been part of the journalism program since freshman year and served as Features Editor...
Apoorva Rangan (12) is the Editor-in-Chief of The Winged Post and a fourth-year staff member. She has previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor...