![“[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)
For physics and research teacher Chris Spenner, it’s not the direction or speed of the perfect disc-golf shot that captivates him the most: instead, he’s drawn to its natural surroundings. Whether making a hole-in-one or not, Spenner takes in the natural world around him, grounding himself in both athleticism and environmentalism.
At 16 years old, Spenner discovered disc golf through his brother. He continued playing casually, especially during road trips, when he would stop to throw around a frisbee for a break. He began competing during the pandemic, improving his skills and form by watching YouTube videos. This year alone, he participated in seven tournaments.
“I grew up playing sports in the backyard, and throwing frisbees was among it,” Spenner said. “It feels like it defies common sense notions of what flying objects ought to do, and when you get good at it, you can do even crazier things with it.”
Disc golf comes with its own distinct set of characteristics from ball golf: players throw a disc instead of hitting a traditional ball, and they target a metal-chain basket instead of a conventional golf hole. One of Spenner’s favorite parts of the game, though, is its accessibility.
“The culture of it definitely attracted me,” Spenner said. “It’s not like ball-golf where you have to be a member of a country club and have expensive equipment. You need a frisbee, you go to these free courses and just show up and play.”
Spenner looks back to one of his most memorable moments in disc golf while playing at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
“I was playing solo, but I came upon a group of other players who had a radio going with my favorite song from the ’80s,” Spenner said. “I complimented their song, and they let me play through so I threw my shot. It was a 300-foot throw to a basket that you couldn’t even see, and I got a hole in one. It was just a mad celebration as I was running to retrieve my disc. It was a glorious moment.”
Physics teacher Miriam Allersma, who formerly played competitive Ultimate Frisbee, shared an enthusiasm for disc sports with Spenner. Dr. Allersma praised his dedication not just in his sport but also in other aspects of his life, inside or outside of his job.
“Mr. Spenner is a really thoughtful and deliberate person,” Dr. Allersma said. “I’m always amazed by how deeply he’s thinking about issues, whether it’s a school policy or something about science or the environment.”
An environmentalist, Spenner describes disc golf as a “hike but throwing a frisbee while doing it.” But he also acknowledges the differences between the two, cherishing hiking as an opportunity to deepen his curiosity for the natural world.
“If I’m playing a really familiar course, then I might not even pay that much attention to some of the scenery and I might be more focused on one element of my game,” Spenner said. “If I go hiking in a new place, that’s really more exploratory since it’s new for me—hiking is much more meditative.”
Ella Yee (’24) views Spenner as one of her biggest role models, taking deep appreciation for his thoroughness inside the classroom. She took every class that Spenner taught throughout her time in high school: AP Physics C, Research Methods, Advanced Research and Honors Systems Science.
“If you’ve ever had Mr. Spenner as a teacher, you know how much he cares about every single one of his students and how he teaches his students to care about their impact in their communities and the world,” Ella said. “He’s changed the way I approach learning and life in general, and I really miss being his student.”
Spenner relishes the thrill of competition in disc golf, but finds greater fulfillment in the environment. For him, the game provides an escape from everyday life in the natural world and a chance to connect with the outdoors.
“I [play disc golf] knowing that it’s kind of a goofy thing because most people don’t picture it as a serious sport because in a lot of ways it’s not, but it’s also something I enjoy and I kind of don’t care what other people think,” Spenner said. “Disc golf is a way for me to be in a different community and a different physical space—a natural space that feeds my soul.”
