![“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)
MINNEAPOLIS — An industrial-style marketplace nestled in downtown Minneapolis just past Target Field, Graze Food Hall by Travail boasts seven restaurant vendors each providing a unique cuisine, from Thai to Mexican. With exposed pipes, bright orange accents, rows of stairwell fairy lights and even a photo booth, the building manages to evoke both minimalism and hominess through welcoming seating options both indoors and outdoors.
We ordered a fried chicken sandwich from Two Mixed Up, which was served with fries, pickles and ketchup and the sweet peanut pad thai with sweet soy chicken from Umami. Both floors of the marketplace featured a bar, where we got a Halle Berry, a lemon-raspberry mocktail.
Fried chicken wrap – $16
The wrap contained delectably crispy fried chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and sauce wrapped in a warm tortilla. The flavors of the chicken were nothing out of the ordinary, but the tomato and lettuce provided a nice crunch, and the sauce added creaminess and a much-needed salty note to the otherwise bland chicken.
The fries which came with the dish were perfectly crunchy on the outside yet soft and steamy inside. We felt that they were too salty, in contrast with the chicken which was not salty enough. The portion size was very filling, and the meal was very enjoyable and had a homemade quality, although we did feel it was a little underseasoned.
Sweet peanut pad thai with sweet soy chicken – $19
Drenched in a delicious spicy coconut peanut sauce, the steaming-hot pad thai was the perfect meal for the sunny yet cold Minneapolis day. The noodles had a bouncy texture and the chicken was cooked perfectly, adding a sweet note to the savory dish. Scattered throughout the noodles, the crushed peanuts offered a pleasant crunch. We would definitely recommend this dish due to its bold flavors and unique presentation.
Halle Berry – $8
Made with raspberry syrup, lemon juice and seltzer water this perfectly tangy mocktail was both delicious and refreshing. Which we got to see made in front of us at the bar. The fresh flavors mixed wonderfully, and the seltzer added a unique dimension to the texture of the drink. Although the drink was a bit on the pricey side, its balanced flavor paired with the vibe of the bar and the marketplace as a whole justified this price point.
We really loved spending time at Graze Food Hall, reveling in the delicious foods and socializing in the ambient environment of the marketplace. From the music playing to the taps where we could get free sparkling water at any point, it’s the details that made dining at Graze into the enjoyable experience it was. We highly suggest you check it out for a wonderful food adventure in downtown Minneapolis.
