![“[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)
Conservatory representatives Maya Affaki (12), Leo Sobcyzn (12), Hanz Baek (10) and Lea Kandl-Zhang (10) opened the school meeting by introducing themselves as the representatives for the second semester. They announced the 2025 dance production, “All You Need is Love,” that takes place on the weekend of Jan. 31. Senior Sonia Yu, one of the nine student choreographers, showcased her routine, “If You Don’t Love Me Now” to “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, as a preview for the upcoming shows.
Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS) officers Ariana Gauba (12) and Victoria Ma (11) presented on the nation’s pressing public safety issues like loose gun laws. They invited students to attend a speaker event with gun violence prevention advocate Kath Tsakalakis, which will take place in biology teacher Michael Pistacchi’s room on Feb. 4. They also announced a competitive fundraiser between MOSS chapters on Feb. 10, which awards the schools that raise the most money with additional donations.
Student Diversity Coalition members Elie Ahluwalia (11) and Alexis Leo (10) promoted Harker’s Student Diversity Leadership Gathering, which will offer empowering and community-centered discussions on Feb. 22. They also announced this year’s Culture Week, taking place the week of Feb. 24, an opportunity for students to share and celebrate each other’s diverse backgrounds through food booths and cultural confectionery stands.
Honors Directed Portfolio student Sophia Liu (12) highlighted the senior art exhibition that showcases their around campus. Students can find senior Eva Li’s and Sophia’s work at the front desk in Main Hall on the week of Jan. 21 and seniors Mirabelle Feng’s, Ethan Guan’s and Keren Eisenberg’s work at the Shah Gallery in the weeks of Jan. 21, Feb. 3 and Feb. 24, respectively.
Astronomy Club officers Kiera Cheng (11) and Eric Dong (11) presented the “A Space for Space,” a speaker series that will host scientists from local schools like Saratoga High School and Lynbrook High School. This program features several speakers: Harker physics teachers Mark Brada, who will present on Jan. 24, and Eric Nelson. Additionally, industry professionals Professor Juan Pedro Ochoa of University of California Irvine and Professor Raja GuhaThakurta of University of California Santa Cruz will also appear.
Associated Student Body president Sam Parupudi (12) closed the meeting.
