Squeeeel. The subway car rumbles beneath the city of concrete and dreams. A boy, lost in a worn paperback, sits oblivious to the world around him. The glow of the station lights casts a warm hue on his face, highlighting the concentration etched into his brow. A gentle breeze, carrying the distant hum of the tracks, ruffles his hair. The rhythmic click-clack of the train wheels provides a soothing soundtrack to senior Felix Chen’s silent adventure.

Sitting on the New York subway enveloped in a book, Felix is a young bibliophile escaping the bustling city and delving into a world of imagination. His passion for literature, developed through hours spent exploring the written word, has made him a dedicated student and a member of the Harker community. But he reads for more than mere enjoyment. For Felix, reading is a profound engagement that shapes his understanding of the world.

“When I read, it helps me understand the world around me, our past, present and our future,” Felix said. “Reading helps me reflect on myself by engaging with others. When I read, I am dialoguing with an author, who might still be living, might be years dead, but they are still a part of a conversation with me. It is not just a passive engagement like reception of information.”

The essence of reading lies not in the act of reading itself but in the connection Felix establishes with the narrative and its characters. He believes that each book offers a unique perspective, allowing him to explore diverse themes and emotions that resonate with him.

“What matters about reading is not your ability to read, but taking in the words and understanding the plot,” Felix said. “It’s how you dialogue with what you have read and how you work alongside the text to gain more understanding. That’s what the point of reading is. No book will ever make me feel exactly the same as any other book. And that uniqueness is what matters to me the most.”

As the Editor-in-Chief of the Book Blog, Felix dedicates himself to fostering a love of reading among his peers. While working to bring events such as book swaps and publishing content on the blog’s online webpage to life, Felix has formed deep connections among the other members that go far beyond their shared love of reading.

“Being a contributing member of the Harker Upper School Book Blog makes me feel incredibly lucky,” Felix said. “I love working with people, who care not just about reading, but about each other as well. My job as the Editor-in-Chief is trying to make the blog a place that everyone likes like I do. I aim to make it so that the people want to come back and keep being a part of the amazing community.”

This commitment to literature and building community through words is evident in Felix’s leadership in the Book Blog. Librarian Amy Pelman notes how Felix has turned a shared space for reading into a platform for curiosity, dialogue and reflection.

“He came along to the Book Blog as a freshman with Rupert, his older brother, and he was pretty quiet at first, and just in the background,” Pelman said. “But over the years, he decided to step up and become more of a defined leader. His enthusiasm for getting it up and running this year and his commitment to it have been infectious and led to some excitement and movement that we haven’t had in the past. He’s been a really trusted, dependable leader with the book blog group.”

Close friend senior Claire Perng recollects their first meeting, where Felix’s shyness and dedication for reading was evident and endearing. Her initial impression of him was forever shaped by the sight of him engrossed in a massive book, a moment that perfectly captured his love for reading. She attests to Felix’s growth throughout high school as he developed more self-confidence and trust in himself. 

“The first time I saw Felix, I remember he was very shy and quiet and liked to read,” Claire said. “He was sitting on a table and he just had like a massive book in front of him. My first memory of him is of him reading a giant book. He’s become more social with other people. He’s probably one of the most charismatic people that I know, he’s easy to talk to, he’s a good listener and he’s very supportive.”

Beyond his academic pursuits and literary interests, Felix has invested countless hours in mastering the bagpipes. Moreover, as a member of a local bagpipe band, he has performed at various concerts, sharing his passion for Scottish culture and music with the community. Felix’s love for the bagpipes goes beyond solo performances. It thrives in the collective experience of playing alongside his fellow band members.

“The bagpipes offer a connection to my Scottish heritage, and a connection to this fantastic community of people who are together in their love for the bagpipes and love for Scottish culture and tradition,” Felix said. “The bagpipes by themselves are a fantastic instrument, but when they come together with other bagpipers and drums, as well, it is just out of this world.”

Close friend senior Ainslie Chen first met Felix in eighth grade when they started playing Minecraft together. They have spent countless hours singing karaoke, enjoying cookies and discussing their shared love for the famous Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Ainslie appreciates how she can always confide in Felix, who provides her with honest advice. This year, she also had the chance to see Felix’s hidden qualities when he performed the bagpipes at Harker’s Quadchella event in the quad.

“I knew that he practiced in an orchestra in San Francisco, and I also saw him perform the bagpipes at Quadchella, which was something I didn’t think I would see,” Ainslie said. “Because he played the bagpipes with his sister, it showed a different side of him that I’d never seen before. It really allowed me to get a glimpse into his family and what he values.”

Felix represents friendship and connection, making a significant impression on those he encounters. He values the bonds he has formed and believes that each relationship has contributed to his personal growth and happiness. As he prepares to embark on a new chapter in his own story, Felix expresses his heartfelt gratitude to those who have enriched his life.

“Leaving Harker, I want to say thank you for many things to different people, and I want them to know how incredibly grateful I am to know them,” Felix said. “I want them to know that they have, in each of their own ways, changed me, made me a better person, happier, and made me smile more. They’ve brought their own joy into my life, and I would not be the same without that. My relationship with these people is special.”