![“[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)
I set aside my homework and grab my phone, prepared to take an Instagram break after a long stretch of studying. As I scroll, I find myself laughing at a reel and checking the account name. I blink, hardly able to believe that the reel was posted by a Harker club account. Social media, particularly Instagram, is a prevalent aspect of school life; class Instagram accounts often post spirit updates and students consume reels and posts by their fellow classmates. See my top five Harker-related Instagrams, be it the humorous or the informative.
5. harkerasb
Harkerasb is a helpful hub for everything you need to know about school events, a perfect landing pad for those new to the upper school. Often, personality-filled reels alert the community about spirit themes, but other formats include lifestyle video interviews connecting with staff and posts that clearly illustrate important events. Despite the variety of content and the creativity behind them, what sets this account back is the infrequency of its posts.
4. harkercrows
harkercrows is an adorable account filled with hilarious and candid depictions of campus critters, not just crows but also the plump squirrels and wily cats that prowl around campus. Every time I see a post, I crack up at the enormous squirrel crawling into a trash can or smile at Athena the cat getting belly rubs. While comedic and light-hearted, the account serves little other educational or informative purpose, hence its spot at fourth place.
3. harker25decisions
Every year around December and April, I snoop around the senior class’s Harker college decisions page. This page can be home to both close friends wishing to congratulate each other and nosy freshmen trying to find out who got accepted to where, making it the perfect breeding ground for emotions anywhere from pride and joy to jealousy and resentment. While I immensely enjoy stalking through the posts, this account can inspire a variety of positive and negative emotions, putting it at third place.
2. harkersleeps
Coming in at second place, harkersleeps is a testament to Harker students’ chaotic sleep schedule. Showcasing students asleep everywhere from desks to hallway floors, this amusing account teases those who can’t help but fall asleep during school hours out of pure exhaustion. This page is one of my favorites because of how much I laugh when I see the unsuspecting faces of the featured students. Seeing people I know featured on the account adds an additional layer of surprise and entertainment, since I am able to witness a more unmasked side of my friends or classmates.
1. 2027harker
The most entertaining and creative school Instagram account in my opinion, the 2027 class Instagram lands in first place. From reminders to dress-up for spirit to silly reels proclaiming spirit themes, class Instagram posts serve as a vital part of Harker spirit and culture. By using trending online sounds or formats in reels, learning about school-related announcements can become much more amusing and informative. Although the content may seem similar to that of the ASB account, the added class pride and more tight-knit community makes class Instagrams stand out from ASB’s more neutral stance and wider lens.
![Vinay Reddy advises former President Biden on a speech. “It doesn't matter who you're writing for,” Reddy said. “The real, most important thing is [that] you understand that person."](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Vinay-Reddy-e1741423129934-1200x904.jpeg)
