![“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)
Hot drinks: Favorites in the holiday season
Gingerbread Cremé (left) & Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate (right) are two of Starbucks’ seasonal favorites during the holidays. Other coffee shops such as Peet’s Coffee and Tea also offer delectable hot drinks for the winter.
As the holiday season quickly approaches, warm and tasty beverages are the perfect way to add festivity and joy to your celebrations. Popular coffee shops, such as Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee and Tea, offer a wide variety of delectable winter drinks. Here are some of our favorites from this season.
STARBUCKS
1. Peppermint Hot Chocolate
One of Starbucks’ most popular non-caffeinated drinks, peppermint hot chocolate serves as a classic holiday beverage that is both satisfying and refreshing. As opposed to a typical cup of hot chocolate, the drink contains the distinctive flavor of rich milk chocolate complete with a unique minty aftertaste for a stimulating feeling. With an evenly distributed blend of peppermint and chocolate, the drink maintains the perfect balance between the sweet and bitter qualities of the ingredients. Enjoyed thoroughly by all ages, peppermint hot chocolate is not only a winter delight, but also a drink that can be savored throughout the entire year.
2. Gingerbread Cremé
If you enjoy the delectable taste of freshly baked gingerbread cookies topped with cinnamon and nutmeg, Starbucks’ Gingerbread Cremé is the perfect holiday drink for you. With an immediate striking scent of sweet cinnamon, the flavor of the beverage is surprisingly subtle with hints of nutmeg and spice. Incredibly delightful and tasty, the lingering aroma of gingerbread will be dancing on your taste buds in seconds. Be sure to stay warm and relaxed with this light, yet zesty drink this holiday season.
3. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
If you have not tasted the classic fall favorite, Salted Caramel hot chocolate, be sure to make your way to your nearest Starbucks to try it now. Differing from the other two holiday beverages, this decaffeinated drink has a distinctive taste that is both sugary sweet and deliciously salty from the buttery caramel and bits of salt drizzled on top. This hot chocolate is nicely complemented with additional toppings to create many layers with different tastes. The whipped cream will slowly melt on your tongue from the very first sip, leaving you begging for more.
PEET’S COFFEE AND TEA
1. Godiva Caramel Pecan Mocha
A recurring holiday special, the Godiva Caramel Pecan Mocha is one of the most advertised Peet’s Coffee products of the winter season. Godiva chocolate, caramel, and toasted pecans blended into a shot of espresso create a warm decadence that makes it a ‘seasonal favorite.’ The drink is topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup to complete the look and is a faultless combination with youthful, sweet traces of hot chocolate and the more familiar and slightly bitter taste of coffee.
2. Pumpkin Latte
Peet’s Pumpkin Latte, a new addition to the store’s holiday menu this season, embraces the autumn weather with reminiscent charm and tempting flavor. Made with the classic latte recipe of a shot of espresso and steamed milk, the infusion of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla add a rich and luxurious essence to the basic coffee drink. To control the intensity of the flavor, you can choose how many pumps of the savory pumpkin syrup you want–the default is three. The Pumpkin Latte is served steaming hot with a top layer of foam, making it an excellent drink to warm up on a cold day.
Juhi Gupta is the Multimedia Editor for Harker Aquila. She is a junior and has been part of the journalism program since her freshman year. Her position...
Anokhi Saklecha (12) is the Global Editor for the Winged Post. She has been in the journalism program for the past three years. She loves the creativity,...
Shannon Su is the Managing Editor and Executive News Director of Harker Aquila. She joined the program as a reporter her freshman year and has held many...