![“[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)
After the senior night matchup against Andrew Hill High School was canceled the morning of, varsity softball organized an intrasquad scrimmage that brought teachers, coaches, and families onto the field to celebrate senior Olivia Guo on April 24.
Before the game began, players presented senior Olivia Guo with flowers and gifts and gathered for group photos at the edge of the field. Each teammate took a moment to speak to Olivia, sharing memories and thanking for her contributions during her two years on the team.
During the scrimmage, World History teacher Jonathan Rim and U.S. Government teacher Carol Green, along with parents and coaches, joined in on the game, stepping onto the field to hit, catch and play with the team. Although players loosely kept score, they switched positions and tried new roles throughout the scrimmage, keeping the game lighthearted and full of laughter. Right fielder Sasha Nazarenko (10), reflected on the experience.
“We were all kind of confused but I think we made the most of it,” Sasha said. “We had a more relaxed time and were able to try new things without the pressure of it being a real game.”
Head coach Raul Rios praised Olivia’s growth during her two seasons on the team. Her quick rise from complete beginner to team leader impressed coaches and teammates alike.
“She came to play last year to have fun and try a team sport, not knowing anything about it,” Rios said. “Then she came around and she actually won our most improved player last year. This year she’s on her way to winning the MVP because she’s the best player on the team.”
Olivia quickly became connected with her teammates on and off the field. This year, she helped welcome new players to create a 21 person team, double the size from 10 the year before, offering guidance during practices and making sure everyone felt included.
“Last year we had barely enough people to play,” Olivia said. “But this year. I feel like it’s just a much bigger community, and we were able to form many more relationships with each other. I’m definitely gonna miss being a team and supporting each other.”
Throughout the year, teammates looked to Olivia as a consistent source of support and encouragement. As someone new to softball as well, Sasha highlighted how Olivia was a motivational figure to her.
“It was really inspiring how much effort she put into getting to where she’s at now,” Sasha said. “You don’t have to start from such a young age to be good at it later; it just matters how much care you put into it.”
