![“[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)
Medical Club hosted its annual Diagnosis Event, inviting students to step into the role of doctors by diagnosing diseases simulated by club officers on March 18.
The two main case studies featured diabetes and arthritis, but officers also included misleading symptoms that mimicked other chronic illnesses, making the diagnostic process more complex.
“This diagnosis event is incredibly beneficial because it’s not just reading symptoms out of a textbook,” Med Club adviser Matthew Harley said. “It teaches students how to work with patients who might not be forthcoming with all their symptoms, requiring them to ask the right questions and probe deeper.”
Club officers acted out symptoms of various diseases while club members practiced analyzing symptoms, conducting medical tests and interacting with patients to determine the correct diagnosis.
“I wrote one of the case studies about rheumatoid arthritis and this 22-year-old pastry chef,” Med Club officer Mindy Truong (11) said. “I think it’s great because you’re stepping into the role of a doctor by diagnosing your patients, and there’s no real consequence if you make a wrong diagnosis. I think it’s the one event where officers actually get to engage with club members.”
The event, which has been a part of the club for four years, was inspired by a former student who participated in a similar program at Stanford University and found the approach helpful.
“If someone is interested in becoming a doctor in the future, this activity is a great step toward that because it provides hands-on experience,” Med Club officer Lucas Chen (11) said. “In the real world, doctors rely on lab tests and symptoms to determine a diagnosis, and we were able to replicate that process in a controlled environment for members to practice and learn.”
Med Club officers plan to continue the interactive format in the future, with events like a dissection activity, recognizing its value in giving students a taste of the challenges and responsibilities of diagnosing patients.
“Med Club does a variety of activities, from journal clubs to guest speakers,” Dr. Harley said. “But putting students in the role of a doctor, instead of just hearing about the profession, really helps them understand what it might be like and whether they enjoy it.”
Additional reporting Nathan Yee.
