![“[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)
It’s 4 a.m., and students from all across the Bay Area breathe a collective sigh of relief after finishing their final assignment. Two hours later, the alarm goes off, and a new school day begins. While they struggle through groggy eyes and mounds of coffee, Marcus Blennemann (’25) wakes up after a full eight hours of sleep, feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.
For four years, Marcus maintained this routine, no matter how packed his schedule gets. He is able to manage the rigorous demands of Honor Council, DECA, research and hardest of all: being a multi-sport athlete. His secret? Discipline and balance.
“I’ve slept eight hours a night every school night for four years,” Marcus said. “When I wake up, I can actually do things right away. I’m not falling asleep or tired easily, so being well-rested helps me be more productive and get everything done during the day.”
Marcus focuses on maintaining his health through a steady routine of exercise and proper rest. His days are filled with physical activities, competing during fall in cross country and spring in swimming, complemented by sessions in the weight room and workouts at home.
“I really like these individual sports because they allow me to exercise for about two hours every weekday,” Marcus said. “I especially enjoy cross country because I have a lot of friends who run with me, and it’s fun to talk to them. It builds a strong community, which I find very fulfilling.”
For Marcus, the discipline he applies to athletics also reflects his overall approach to life. Marcus takes this mindset to the Honor Council, where he strives to maintain a healthy and supportive community.
As a senior member on the council, Marcus works to uphold the school’s values while fostering a sense of integrity within the student body. However, he recognizes that some students may see the Honor Council as a strict board who seek to penalize students.
“I hope people don’t see us as police officers — we’re trying to help,” Marcus said. “We mainly advise administration and organize events like Honor Week. If I see someone sharing answers, I’ll tell them to stop but won’t report without evidence. A leader should listen and make people feel heard, but you can’t please everyone. We take a middle-road by deferring to teachers but setting guidelines.”
Marcus’ work in the Honor Council allowed him to take on a leadership role that emphasizes empathy, responsibility and listening to others. The Honor Council also engages with the student body through interesting and effective activities such as Honor Week. Close friend and cross country teammate Hariss Miller (’25) describes Marcus as “the glue” that holds the group together.
“He likes to make jokes, but he takes the Honor Council really seriously,” Harriss said. “He can talk to a lot of people, and he’s very charismatic, so people respect him. He’s good at being funny but also serious when it needs to happen.”
Beyond athletics and Honor Council, Marcus’s involvement in DECA has also been an important part of his high school experience. Competing at a high level, his team qualified for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). Working with Nelson Gou (’25), Marcus was able to refine his experience, working on complex projects like Neo, a bamboo-reinforced concrete innovation.
“Marcus is someone who never backs down,” Nelson said. “He’s always very bold with what he does. If he has an opinion that he thinks is correct and valid, he will not stop trying to push it until it happens. He’s very confident in himself, and he gets things done all the time.”
Marcus also immersed himself in research focused on community health. Last summer, he interned at the Gladstone Institutes, where he worked on using image recognition models to identify cell types for gene therapies targeting cancer. His research, while still in the experimental stages, was part of a larger project aimed at contributing to the medical field of cancer studies.
At the heart of everything Marcus does, whether it’s competing in sports, leading on the Honor Council, excelling in DECA or counting research, ties back to his commitment to health, balance and community.
“Success is being good at what I do and being able to help others,” Marcus said. “I always try to do my best in everything. If I know I can’t hold up my end, I set priorities. Helping others along the same path is part of that definition of success.”
As Marcus prepares for the next chapter in his life, the values that he cultivated will continue to guide him. His dedication to balance and the community will be the foundation for his continued success. He lives by the quote “Fortune favors those who favor themselves,” which he truly takes to heart.
“You can’t wait for things to happen,” Marcus said. “You have to drive yourself to sign up for things, show initiative and reach out to people. A lot of it is luck, but you have to create your own luck by showing initiative. In sports, you can’t just wish to be healthier or stronger—you have to push yourself and take action. I try to be a well-balanced and healthy person, committed to my ideals of health, honesty and helping others through Honor Council and research.”
