![“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)
Standing before a crowd of awestruck students and teachers, Christy Ma (’26) calmly explains the originality behind her art piece “Doppelgänger,” a work displayed in the Shah gallery. With aplomb and enthusiasm, she answers various questions about the painting and the unnerving, eerie atmosphere inspired by horror films.
From steadily supporting her classmates in a cheer lift or walking her peers through a difficult passage during orchestra, Christy breezes through her classes and extracurriculars with a smile and an openness to learn. Despite acknowledging the existence of her academic weaknesses, she strives to mend those gaps with passion and motivation.
“My love of learning has definitely translated over into schoolwork,” Christy said. “There are classes that I find really interesting, so I want to learn them, and I take those courses and work hard. Even in subjects that aren’t my favorite, I still try my best in those classes because it’s still something that I feel is important to my learning and my growth.”
A childhood instrumentalist and a current flute player, Christy’s involvement in orchestra builds upon this belief. As a leader in sectionals — focused rehearsals by subgroups within the larger ensemble — Christy aims to answer questions and solve problems she and her classmates face to ensure a melodic and synchronized performance.
“Orchestra is about the collective and making music as a group more than just one person,” Christy said. “Solo parts help to highlight individual people, but the main focus is definitely more on the collaborative aspect melding every instrument’s sound to be in harmony.”
Orchestra director Jaco Wong first met Christy when she was in middle school, having previously taught her older sister in music as well. Noticing her supportive behavior toward fellow students, Wong praises Christy for her initiative and respect of boundaries when offering feedback and assistance.
“In sectionals, she’s able to identify issues within her sections and help fix them,” Wong said. “At the same time, she has also talked to me multiple times about approaching younger members or friends who are struggling in the section. Not only is she a musical leader, but she also knows the dynamics between people, and she’s helpful but doesn’t overstep.”
Close friend Ariel Zhang (’26) observes Christy’s motivation in self-improvement from her activities ranging from ice skating to painting, encouraging her to continue fostering confidence and demonstrating compassion for others.
“Christy has a really strong value system, and she’s someone who lives by her morals and by what she believes in,” Ariel said. “She is one of the most courageous people that I know. A lot of people might sacrifice their values for their activities, but she has such a strong internal drive, which is something I admire.”
To improve upon her ability to form strong relationships with her peers, Christy joined the cheer team in sophomore year. A longtime figure skater, she credits her experience in sports as the reason for her perseverance and highlights cheer as a way to strengthen those foundations by leaning on others.
“Having a team in cheer feels very supportive because you can rely on other people and trust them,” Christy said. “I’m putting all of my effort in and working really hard, and I know my team is too. That kind of feeling is great and part of that support, both emotionally and literally.”
A classmate in Japanese and orchestra for several years, close friend Erika Wang (’26) enjoys the free time she shares with Christy, from watching anime to trying out new restaurants.
“Just the fact that there is a friend present in the same space makes our activities more enjoyable: even studying, for example,” Erika said. “The fact that there is someone to talk to or laugh with is really nice. Our relationship is based a lot on proximity.”
Uniting all of Christy’s pursuits is a commitment to personal growth. Whether practicing in the ice rink before school or leading the flutes in orchestra sectionals, Christy actively seeks out challenges to meet her potential.
“I have a strong desire to become the best person that I can be,” Christy said. “Creatively, intellectually and athletically, I want to challenge myself. Even though it makes me busy, it adds to my quality of life a lot knowing that I can be a figure skater, a cheerleader and complete all these athletic achievements, while at the same time also being able to express myself through things like art or music.”
