![“[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)
SEATTLE — Customers line up in front of the entrance of the Starbucks in Pike Place Market at 10 a.m. on Thursday. As they enter, they are greeted by the words “Espresso” and “Cappuccino” in cursive above the counter, giving the store interior an antique feel. Pike Place cups, mugs and merchandise line the shelves, including bags of Pike Place Special Reserve coffee, a blend sold only at two locations in downtown Seattle.
From afar it seems to be a typical Starbucks store, filled with customers eager to get their daily dose of morning coffee. But on the storefront the unfamiliar brown branding and “STARBUCKS” sign in white block letters reveal something special — it’s the world’s oldest surviving Starbucks opened in 1971, at Pike Place.
A large round golden plate inscribed with the words “FIRST STARBUCKS STORE” stands near the entrance. Unlike typical Starbucks stores, the interior of this Pike Place location remains faithful to its 1970s dark brown aesthetic. The original Starbucks logos appear throughout the store, featuring the famous Starbucks Siren on a brown background instead of the familiar bright green. The word “SPICES” in the logo is a remnant of the company’s past, having grown from a local coffee bean, tea and spice retailer to a multinational corporation in the last 50 years.
“I’ll check the menu to see what there is, and I’ll probably get what I usually order,” a customer from California said. “It’s special to visit the world’s oldest Starbucks.”
