With the flute pressed gently to her lips, senior Jessica Wang’s fingers hover above the keys, her focus unshaken by the buzzing energy around her. As she begins to play, the room falls silent, each note reflecting her dedication to music. The melody weaves through the crowd, representing not just music, but an emotional experience and a silent connection between Jessica and the audience.

In fourth grade, Jessica joined her school’s band and picked up flute for the first time. She began taking formal lessons two years later, but at the time, playing the flute was simply an enjoyable activity. Her perspective shifted as she approached junior year through her teacher’s firm guidance and her encounters with more competitive and serious flutists. Inspired by their dedication, she was motivated to elevate her playing to match their level.

Although Jessica mainly participates in the Harker orchestra, she also attends other events like the National Flute Association convention, where she auditioned and performed alongside other skilled flutists. One of her most memorable experiences was performing at an event with the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a national program that celebrates student musicians’ achievements. After the performance, she received heartfelt compliments from fellow musicians and audience members, leaving a lasting impression on her.

“One of the other performers came up to me, and he was like, ‘Wow, you played really beautifully,’” Jessica said. “I really enjoyed listening to it. And after, one of the other people singing at that place, their mom came up to me and was like, ‘Wow, you played well, and it sounded really hard.’ I really felt like I played well and I touched them.”

Jessica has come to appreciate the variety of approaches people take toward music in different environments. She has learned to embrace the unique motivations and perspectives of her fellow musicians.

“I’ve learned to be much more accepting of people’s differences,” Jessica said. “At Harker, the level and the seriousness people take music at is significantly different from what I’ve experienced. At places outside of Harker like ensembles, they’re extremely serious; but at Harker, some people do it for fun. Some do it because they enjoy orchestra and don’t take it seriously, but they still like it.”

Jessica also strives to make a positive impact on the other members of orchestra by inspiring them with her playing and creating a sense of community within her section. As a leader of her section, she is determined to encourage both growth and continuity in orchestra.

“The people in my section, by hearing me play, might also start taking flute more seriously, or even if they don’t, they continue doing orchestra.” Jessica said. “I hope to create good memories and be a good leader this year. I hope to retain more people next year, and I hope everyone who’s currently a member of the section continues being part of it for the rest of their high school year.”

Jessica’s positive energy and thoughtful nature leaves a lasting impression on her peers. Close friend senior Tiffany Gu, who befriended Jessica through orchestra in freshman year, admires her ability to uplift others and create a supportive environment.

“She’s very energetic, she lights up the room and she makes sure everyone is taken care of,” Tiffany said. “I can tell she definitely puts other people first, especially when we go out and hang out together. Overall she makes sure everyone’s having a good time in general by being really optimistic, enthusiastic and kind.”

Close friend senior Vika Gautham appreciates her honesty and dedication to self-improvement. Jessica’s ability to reflect on her orchestra performances and identify areas for growth stands out to Vika as a testament to her determination.

“She’s not afraid to say what she thinks,” Vika said. “It’s a very rare quality nowadays to say what you’re actually thinking, and she’s very upfront about it, which I really admire. She’s passionate as well. She’ll talk about everything that she’s done good and done bad, and she’ll go through it and be like, ‘Oh, this is what I did wrong, and this is what I have to improve next time, and this is what I did right.’”

Beyond orchestra, Jessica’s dedication to her interests also shines through Japanese. She started learning the language in sixth grade, and she joined the Japanese National Honor Society in her freshman year. 

Her leadership skills became evident as she served as JNHS secretary in her junior year before taking on the role of president as a senior. Japanese teacher and JNHS adviser Yumiko Aridomi commends Jessica’s leadership skills in her position as JNHS president.

“She seems quiet, but she actually has very strong leadership,” Aridomi said. “She assigns everyone to jobs very well. Some leaders take all the responsibility and try to do everything alone, but she spreads out the work, and with collaboration, she leads the club very well.”

Jessica’s connection to the flute is rooted in her desire to create music that resonates with others. For her, the power of music lies not just in playing notes but in the emotional experience it provides to listeners. Jessica aims to share that impact and connect with others through her own performances.

“I wanted to play flute so I can play beautiful music that others can listen to, so if I were to listen to that music I would feel better,” Jessica said. “I want to share that same experience with other people, so I’m motivated to practice more, so I can sound better. I want people to hear good music when I play and get inspired to also study an instrument.”