![“I wasn't discouraged by some of the obstacles we faced. I learned a lot from the leadership. I found that different people need different ways of receiving feedback — you can't [just] tell them to do something and expect the best. [Some] people needed more incentive. A large part of my role was to figure out what worked for everyone and to figure out how to lead all these separate individuals as a team,” Suhana Bhandare (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SuhanaBhandare_JasmineHansra-1-1200x798.jpg)
![“This is actually from Randy Pausch Randy P. Brick: ‘Walls are there for a reason. You have to show how much you want to overcome them.’ You have to show how much you want something. That's what I've always been able to do with tennis, Link Crew and getting that internship [with Kushy Baby]. It’s important pushing through that — getting around that brick wall, climbing over it or clawing through it,” Yash Sachdeva (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YashSachdeva_RamBatchu-copy-1200x1002.jpg)
![“[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)
Sometimes, when I look back at my past actions, I can’t help but cringe at myself. Why did I wear that jacket with an outdated meme on it? Why did I say that unfunny joke? I always wish I had never done those things to spare my current and past self the embarrassment, but these peculiar experiences make life all the more exciting.
When asked to recall the most embarrassing time of my life, I most vividly recall the 2020 TikTok anime community. I, too, participated in my fair share of cringe content, ranging from exaggerated cosplay videos to poorly written fanfiction with friends. While it’s difficult to endure the stories we wrote, today I find a sense of nostalgia and genuine joy in rereading them since they represent experiences shared with friends through common passions.
If I had avoided these endeavors, I would have spared myself the second-hand embarrassment from these memories, but I also would have missed out on valuable experiences that forged my own distinct passions and identity. Had I never sent that cringey joke or posted that poorly made video edit of my favorite TV show, I would have never met some of my dearest friends and made connections that enriched my social experience. It may seem humiliating now, but those moments are unique building blocks to my personality today.
Last year, I wandered into a shop selling unique clothing and quirky accessories of the video game Five Nights At Freddy’s. I enjoyed each item as I meandered around the shelves, but my friends did not feel the same way. They gave each piece an impassive look and even ridiculed some of them. Too embarrassed to admit that I actually liked the jacket they had just mocked, I walked away empty-handed. I later returned on my own in hopes of buying that same jacket, but since it was a limited-time collaboration item, I was unable to find it. To this day, I regret caving into my fear of judgment, and I wish I were not so scared to express myself through my actions.
Most of the time, these anxieties stemmed from misinterpretations or exaggerations of other’s reactions. I have come to accept that while some people will judge me, others will support me. What might seem embarrassing to one group of people may not be to others, which means that someone will always be judging, regardless of what I do.
In a way, the futility of attaining “un-cringe” status inspires me to throw out cringe culture entirely. Cringe culture is the online phenomenon where a group of people are discriminated against because they are considered embarrassing or awkward. This belief gained traction recently and has led to suppressions of identity and niche interests. Although I am still affected by how others perceive me, their thoughts have grown less important to my decisions. When I address my fear of social judgment, I am free to explore what I am passionate about and make relationships with people who resonate with what makes me unique. Being able to explore and act without judgment makes each day an exciting journey, even if it may be difficult to look back in five years without getting a shiver of second-hand embarrassment.
Thanks to the rise of cringe culture, expressing unique interests is difficult. Once something is deemed cringe, fans are either ostracized by outsiders or abandon their interests in fear of being mocked. For example, the popular anime My Hero Academia’s popularity has waned after being labeled “cringe” by the general public, causing many potential and current fans to avoid watching the series entirely. Fans would also face ridicule both online and in person, making it difficult for enthusiasts to find a community where they can discuss their interests. While seemingly harmless, this prejudice can lead to discrimination and bullying justified by the claims of cringe culture.
Instead of worrying about how our actions seem to others, we should express ourselves as we want to. After all, I would rather look back at memories with the comfort that I did what I wanted to do, instead of the regret of a missed opportunity.
