The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

“I mostly just live my life thinking, ‘Why not? Shaya Zarkesh said. If the possible regret is not probable or not that big, then I’ll do it. I don’t judge things based on importance, I judge things based on how much fun will result out of it.”

Humans of Harker: Shaya Zarkesh doesn’t shy away from spontaneity

by Eleanor Xiao, TALON Editor-in-Chief December 11, 2017

Catch Shaya Zarkesh (12) humming (or maybe belting) “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas in the hallways, or maybe racing as fast as he can towards any soccer ball that comes in his sight. Maybe...

“My core beliefs probably have not changed that much — my values are more or less aligned with what my family taught me,” Nastya Grebin (12) said. But in terms of personality, I have become much more open, much more welcoming of new experiences; I am not as afraid as I was of new things. I hope that I have become a little bit friendlier to people and a little bit more open. I used to really dislike positions that put me in charge of people, so I didnt like leadership positions, mostly because I was afraid of disappointment, of disappointing someone else. Now Ive kind of let go of that, and if people rely on me, I take that as an honor — I take that as a responsibility, but also an honor.”

Humans of Harker: Nastya Grebin blends the best of both worlds

by Anna Vazhaeparambil December 8, 2017

“We used to tease her that she was a Russian spy,” senior Lauren Russell said of her close friend Anastasiya “Nastya” Grebin (12). “She's like, 'No, I'm not Russian, I'm Ukrainian.' She lived...

“I think it was the moment when I stopped saying what I wanted to be or what I was, when I stopped identifying with things that I did or who I was, that I was able to be a lot more than that, Selin Sayiner (12) said. How I define my family, or how I define my culture, or how I choose to define myself as a basketball player — rather than stuff like that, it became my choice. It was those moments where I decided that I could be what I wanted and do what I wanted, and it wasnt based on any other definition of myself, that I could be the person I am now.”

Humans of Harker: Selin Sayiner takes charge of her identity

by Jin Tuan, Reporter December 7, 2017

Nike duffel bag slung over one shoulder, Selin Sayiner (12) navigates the hallways of Shah, starting conversations with just about anyone. Ask most seniors about Selin, and “basketball” is the first...

“We went up to San Francisco at 4 a.m. in the morning,” Yannick Bohbot-Dridi (12) said. “We got off a boat that dropped us off under the Golden Gate Bridge with some 300 other people who are cancer survivors and families of people who have faced cancer, and we swam in honor of everyone who had battled cancer. When we got into the water, we could barely breathe because it was so cold. Its like that feeling when your lungs feel like they cant expand. And you cant see anything. You cant even see a couple feet in front of you — I couldnt even see the swimmers in front of me, nothing. Every ten or so strokes, you have to lift yourself out the water and tread water a bit to see where youre at. I knew that doing this, on paper, had very little benefit towards me. I was swimming in the bay in the freezing cold bay on a Sunday morning. At the beginning, I thought, Yeah, Im just going to help people, but I did not expect to feel so happy after. I just felt grateful.”

Humans of Harker: Yannick Bohbot-Dridi finds purpose in the water

by Srinath Somasundaram, Reporter December 6, 2017

A series of splashes sends ripples of waves through the water as Yannick Bohbot-Dridi (12) speeds across the pool. His body is a well-oiled machine, refined and optimized through extensive practice. “You...

There are a lot of things that I do that are very questionable, but its not as questionable because Ive set this tone that Im just going to do random stuff, Kristin LeBlanc (12) said. I just do me, and I think people have learned to accept that.”

Humans of Harker: Kristin LeBlanc becomes comfortable with the uncomfortable

by Zoe Sanders, Reporter December 5, 2017

From spontaneously singing “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber to wearing white Crocs with socks to school, Kristin LeBlanc (12) is notorious for her off-the-wall antics. As a Harker student since middle...

“I never go to bed angry, Ashna Chandra (12) said. If I’m fighting with someone like a friend or my mom or someone, I always try to solve a problem before I go to bed. I just don’t like to go to bed with a bad state of mind. That’s just how I try to keep myself positive.”

Humans of Harker Ashna Chandra maintains a positive mindset

by Devanshi Mehta, Seniors Editor December 4, 2017

Ashna doesn’t confine herself to one activity — DECA business conferences, nature hikes with family friends, rounds of golf and even kickboxing sessions all manage to fit into her schedule. One...

Sarcasm is a pretty easy way to be funny without trying to make jokes, because you can be sarcastic anytime you speak, Tanay Kamat (12) said. Even if someone’s in a bad mood or something, being sarcastic helps them laugh and gets them into a better mood and hopefully resolves any conflict.

Humans of Harker: Tanay Kamat’s work ethic underscores his sarcastic sense of humor

by Aditya Singhvi, Reporter December 1, 2017

“Very talkative,” history teacher Carol Green said of senior Tanay Kamat. “And on point.” Whether he’s throwing an aptly-timed sarcastic comment or expressing genuine enthusiasm for a subject,...

“Yes, I want to achieve justice and equality in the world, why is that a bad thing?” Megan Huynh (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Megan Huynh debates for a cause

by Nina Gee, Reporter November 30, 2017

Like many other Harker students, Megan Huynh (12) began her middle school career with a debate class and a hatred of public speaking. “My mom forced me to take the class,” Megan said. “I was really...

“The change may happen tomorrow, it may happen later in life, but being afraid is something I want to change,” Floyd Gordon (12) said. “I don’t think I’ve really stepped out of the box yet. When I give advice to people, I usually tell them that they can’t be shy or scared, they just have to do it. But that doesn’t apply to me all the time. Like everybody else, I’m somewhat hesitant too.”

Humans of Harker: Floyd Gordon reveals the personality behind the highlight reel

by Cameron Zell, Asst. Photo Editor November 29, 2017

Senior Floyd Gordon prepares inside the boy’s locker room, his traditional song, AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” blasting through his headphones. As the game draws nearer, Floyd finds himself standing...

I dont really care whether Im entertaining by being the person you laugh with or the person you laugh at, Edgar Lin (12) said. Sometimes it just feels good to do something thats kind of ridiculous.”

Humans of Harker: Edgar Lin amuses himself with the absurdities of life

by Rose Guan, Wingspan senior staff writer and designer November 28, 2017

“He bikes to school; he's, like, the bike man. He eats with two knives using them as chopsticks every single day — when the chopsticks came, he still used the knives as chopsticks. When he does push-ups,...

“[Education is] just lagging right now, Ellen Minkin (12) said. Sexual education, or just learning about the world. We live in a progressive era, but even we arent being informed of a lot of things. We live in ignorance. I was put on this earth, and I feel like if I dont do anything, it’s just such a waste of a life. I actually want to make an impact, or else my life is pointless. Im just a snowflake in a huge storm, and I want to make a change.”

Humans of Harker: Ellen Minkin campaigns for change, one conversation at a time

by Heidi Zhang, Humans of Harker Videographer November 27, 2017

After years of driving to Lake Tahoe for weekly skiing competitions, Ellen Minkin (12) has earned the right to the nickname "weekend warrior." “The thing about skiing is, you're all alone and it's...

One time I got this advice from this choreographer named Nicole Kirkland, and she was the choreographer for Prince for many many years, and she was talking about being a backup dancer and how important it is to be more than just your look because in the industry its so much about your look, Haley Keller (12) said. So shes just a redhead dancer, but she says, You know, you have to stop being just a redhead dancer and you have to start being called by your name. You have to stop just being a look. You have to be Nicole Kirkland. You have to be Haley Keller. You have to stop being just somebody that is determined or auditioned by this. You have to be more than that.”

Humans of Harker: Haley Keller plays with character

by Kathy Fang, Photo Editor November 17, 2017

Which names in the fashion industry evoke powerful images of bold personality which have broken past the confines of stereotypes and expectations? Ashley Graham, for one. Tory Burch. And soon, Haley Keller...

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