![“[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)
Ninety-three student-run organizations invited students to explore Harker’s wide range of extracurricular opportunities at the annual Club Fair in the Nichols Atrium and Rothschild Commons on Sept. 17.
Students visited the clubs’ booths and posters, where representatives shared information and encouraged sign-ups on Harker Dev’s activities website. For many frosh, the event marked their first time interacting with clubs on campus, from UNICEF to Jewish Affinity Group, and picking out organizations that resonated most with them.
“The Club Fair was a really cool experience, and it was nice to visit all the different clubs,” frosh Anneka Prusty said. “I really liked the Cooking Club because they showcased some of the food that they made, and the passionfruit lemonade was really good, so now I want to join.”
Many organizations went beyond typical trifold posters, catching students’ attention with giveaways, live demonstrations and trivia games. The Music Creation Club showcased a live beat-making set with a keyboard and sound equipment, while TEDxHarkerSchool offered attendees free merch and invited them to pose for a photo with handmade picture frames.
“We had an experiment where you’re on a seat that can spin around, and by twisting a wheel, you can move in circular motion,” Physical Sciences Club President Jaden Fu (12) said. “We wanted to show a physics concept that was interesting because Club Fair is mainly an opportunity for freshmen [to] see the environment and join cool clubs.”
From well-established groups to new organizations, clubs used the fair to showcase their initiatives and connect with those who shared similar interests. Programming Club adviser Anu Datar highlighted how the fair fosters both community and exploration.
“It’s great to just find a space where we do activities that help us bond and create a space for anybody who is interested,” Datar said. “Students can find like-minded people and families to belong to.”
