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 do think [music] is worth it because I’d rather be myself than present myself as a prepackaged, artificial box. Every year I’ve been playing harp, there’s always one song that makes me cry from frustration and happiness — frustration from feeling as if I’d never master whatever I was doing, and happiness from finally sharing the piece with others. Playing the harp has opened a window into knowing myself better as an ambassador, as a collaborator, as a listener and as a performer, and I wouldn’t give that up for anything, Tiffany Wong (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Musings and melodies

by Katherine Zhang, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief March 25, 2019

Tiffany Wong’s (12) bright laugh cuts through the crisp winter air as she leans her full body weight against a glass door in Dobbins Hall, causing it to swing forward. Somewhere off in the distance,...

Sports is—its pretty cheesy—its kind of like my life. Ive been doing sports my whole life, so its just always exciting to play a sport, between basketball and volleyball, or pretty much any sport. I always get into it. It always entertains me, Jarrett Anderson (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Head in the game

by Nina Gee, Visuals Editor March 25, 2019

A man of few words: that's what Jarrett Anderson (12) is. On the court he emanates a quiet, burning energy that one feels more than sees, but don't mistake that for passivity. When he plays, Jarrett...

“Going to that [certificate] meeting has changed my life for the better. I have a lot of the same friends that I did before then, but I really have expanded my horizons and know more people now. Wherever I go for college, even if there’s no one from Harker, if I join a choir or an a capella group, there’s always going to be an instant home for me, Marina Logue (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Beneath the outer shell

by Varsha Rammohan, Copy Editor March 24, 2019

“Going to that [certificate] meeting has changed my life for the better. I have a lot of the same friends that I did before then, but I really have expanded my horizons and know more people now,” Marina...

Have something that you can go outside and experience. I don’t think enough people realize the opportunities they have here in California. The nature we have here - it’s probably top-class and it’s probably not going to get any better anywhere else you go. And I think that people should take advantage of that, while they have it, Krish Kapadia (12) said.

Humans of Harker: All around

by Arya Maheshwari, STEM Editor March 23, 2019

In the summer, he’s surfing. In the fall, he’s mountain biking. In the winter, he’s snowboarding and also starts playing soccer, which continues into the spring. For Krish Kapadia (12), sports and...

“Use your voice. Speak your mind, because thats what this country is about, thats what lifes about, thats what our world has come to be about. Speak your mind, and listen to others. But vote—most importantly vote, Haris Hosseini (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Speak up

by Kathy Fang, Managing Editor March 22, 2019

His voice resonates in the bright, open space of the athletic center as he strides across the gym floor before a sea of his peers and his teachers. He bears a stately confidence, looking up into the audience...

If there is something I don’t understand, I will spend as long as it takes for me to get enough of an understanding about a topic because I can’t stand knowing that I don’t know something that I could know, Kaushik Shivakumar (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Beyond surface level

by Vishnu Kannan, Reporter March 21, 2019

Many people would take the workings of a table tennis ball for granted, but not Kaushik Shivakumar (12). As he leans against the Dobbins stairwell, Kaushik begins to describe the effect that aerodynamics...

“Not anything is given to you. You know, you got to take it and you have to earn it. Hard work pays off.

Humans of Harker: Touchdowns and life lessons

by Shreya Srinivasan, TALON Organizations and Co-Sports Editor March 21, 2019

The lights shine bright, focusing on the figures centered on the field. Anthony Meissner (12) tightly grips the brown football in his hands, attentively watching for who to throw it to. Seeing an open...

“The biggest value that we have as a Turkish community is family. We have huge, huge, huge families, and even people that you’re close friends with, they’re part of your family too... we’re just all family, Dilara Ezer (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Where friends meet family

by Hunter Tucker and Kathy Fang March 20, 2019

In the background, a church choir sings hymns softly. Further downstage, Dilara Ezer (12) stands on top of a table, bathed in pale light in the shape of a window frame. With her hair pulled back and her...

“Performing is one of the most terrifying things, like having to audition for teacher or perform in front of people not knowing if they’re going to like it,” Abigail Wisdom (12) said. “But just having fun with your friends in the rehearsal process, feeling confident during the performance and doing your best regardless of what other people think makes this experience worth it and makes myself proud of my work.”

Humans of Harker: Swimming, singing and smiling

by Emily Chen, TALON Co-Academics Editor March 20, 2019

When asking Abigail Wisdom’s (12) friends about her most memorable quality, a common response emerges: her smile. No matter if she’s in the water or on the stage, her smile and laugh are contagious...

“Academically, the classes that I take, I no longer am stuck in the ‘this a grade’ mindset on my report card, but every class is an opportunity to learn something new and to take risks. Youre not going to enjoy every class. Ultimately, from every class, youll learn if you like the subject or not, Ashwin Rammohan (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Clearing setbacks

by Mark Hu, Reporter March 19, 2019

Focused on a white, dimpled ball lying on a tee in a sea of green grass, Ashwin Rammohan (12) prepares for his swing, a thin golf club grasped between his hands. He leans the club back, and in a smooth...

“Initially you still have all these thoughts floating through your head, so you kind of distance yourself from them and draw your sphere of awareness to you and forget about the cars going outside or the ticking of the clock. That gives me a different perspective on how much things matter, Akshay Ravoor (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Finding awareness

by Nicole Tian, Reporter March 19, 2019

Dressed in a puffy, bright orange jacket, Akshay Ravoor (12) exudes an ebullient personality lighthearted enough to match the tones of his clothing. He speaks in a slightly lilting voice and expresses...

“At this point, its kind of hard to define what my comfort zone is because I dont spend much time in it. Im known for just going for things,” Cedric Nowatzyk (12) said. “I dont hesitate, and I feel like the idea of a comfort zone hasnt really been applied to me for a while, since I can hold true to statement that Ive never had an idea that I wouldnt just chase immediately.”

Humans of Harker: Passion beyond expectation

by Anna Vazhaeparambil, Reporter March 18, 2019

To different people, the name “Cedric Nowatzyk” means very different things. A writer to some, a therapist to others, he has impacted the people around him in countless ways. But as he sits on the...

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