![“[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)
Kamala Harris’s policies, particularly those that appear to cater to moderates or adopt conservative stances, warrant scrutiny about the consistency of the values that her progressive platform supports and her commitment to core Democratic values.
I fully support her candidacy for the presidency, but I have been growing increasingly concerned about the lack of critical examination she receives. This overwhelming support may stem from her being viewed as the lesser of two evils in a polarized political climate, where many voters prioritize defeating the opposing candidate over scrutinizing their own. A serious issue arises: if a candidate is elevated to high office without being rigorously challenged, what incentive do they have to address their constituents’ genuine concerns?
Harris’s policy decisions, especially on complex and controversial issues, should be subject to thorough analysis and scrutiny. Since President Biden dropped out of the race, she moved toward more conservative views, pledging to strengthen the border and no longer supporting Medicare for All. It is vital that we critically engage with her policy proposals and do not simply accept them at face value. There are many ways to engage politically to champion what we find important: through active advocacy, public discourse, grassroots organizing and petitions or open forums.
I also recognize my own privilege in discussing these matters. Living in California, a predominantly democratic state, I am largely insulated from the immediate threats posed by the opposing candidate, like former President Donald Trump’s promises to support states having the right to restrict or nearly ban abortion as they choose. This privilege, however, also compels me to voice concerns and advocate for a more meticulous evaluation of candidates: they must earn our support through substantive policy commitments and actions, rather than simply being the lesser of two evils.
Without inquiry into the true values and policies a candidate’s platform supports, we need to be wary of affirming our backing of their campaign. We should ensure that our chosen leaders are committed to advancing the values and priorities that truly matter to us, which necessitates political awareness, engagement and, most importantly, a willingness to push against the grain to advocate for what we believe to be necessary.
Will Gonsior • Nov 21, 2024 at 9:29 am
It was necessary, for her to have a chance, for Kamala to get better as a candidate and support better policies than in her failed 2019 presidential bid in which she supported policies which were unpopular and impractical. As vice president, Ms. Harris learned about how to actually run a country, and returned in 2024 as a much smarter, more electable candidate. Most scrutiny of Harris was patently absurd when compared to the man on the other side. There was no need for Harris to address “her constituents’ genuine concerns;” after all, no one was expecting the same thing from Donald Trump, and that created quite the double standard. Perhaps one that felled her candidacy.