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 want to combine programming and biology – I want to use computer science to create better tools for disease diagnosis. The research I did was specifically on neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s. I want to do something with my skills to help other people,” Matthew Jin (12) said. 

Humans of Harker: Code over words

by Sally Zhu, Reporter March 18, 2020

Matthew Jin (12) can be found in the corners of the school campus, furiously typing away on his laptop as he programs a computational model for Alzheimer’s. He concentrates deeply, not needing to communicate...

“I was proud that I was named captain and that the coaches had faith in me about my leadership abilities. It sort of gave me a little bit more confidence – that I am actually contributing to the team and leading them,” Sahil Gosain (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Leading through example

by Saurav Tewari, Sports Reporter March 18, 2020

The after school bell rings, signaling the end of another school day. For many, it means spending time with friends before going home. However, Sahil Gosain (12), wearing a water polo jacket and track...

If you want something, you set that goal, but you can’t stop there. You have to figure out how you’re actually going to approach it, and thats the planning part, figuring out the steps and getting the resources, but you still can’t stop there. A lot of people just get stuck with this list of to-dos, and they never actually do the things on their list. If you have a goal, make a plan, and go do it,” Mahi Kolla (12) said. 

Humans of Harker: A flair of aesthetic

by Arushi Saxena, Winged Post News Editor March 17, 2020

Sitting poised at a table behind Manzanita, Mahi Kolla (12) dispels her business knowledge to her two DECA mentees, compiling her years of experience in short tidbits of wisdom. Mahi’s obvious business...

“Softball taught me so many things – how to be patient with myself, how to be resilient and most of all how to create these immensely strong bonds with my teammates. Coaching kids almost came naturally to me just due to how much I loved the sport and how much I wanted to share my passion with other people,” Arushi Nety (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Living in motion

by Varsha Rammohan, Managing Editor March 17, 2020

Her black Puma sneakers tapping rhythmically on the bench, her long fingers fiddling around with one another and her hair waving back and forth in its ponytail. Arushi Nety (12) lives in motion.  As...

“If you can take the time to isolate yourself from a current time and place and objectively judge yourself [by asking] yourself questions, then you can ultimately be on this constantly pivoting mind where you put yourself forth and you embrace this idea of uncertainty. You find yourself in really rewarding and really fulfilling places where you meet new people and try new things,” Bryan Wang (12) said. 

Humans of Harker: Wandering, wondering and waiting

by Lauren Liu, Reporter March 13, 2020

There’s a theoretical and observational side to everything – and Bryan Wang’s (12) hobbies are no exception. From being co-president of Programming club to conducting research at University of California...

“Especially at Harker, where the academic pressure is very high, I think humor is a very good way to help both my friends and me destress ourselves. In fact, making others laugh gives me a sense of satisfaction, that Ive done something good in the lives of others,” Emma Li (12) said. 

Humans of Harker: Bouncing on balloons

by Sally Zhu, Reporter March 13, 2020

Friends wave to Emma Li (12) as she walks to her car, smiling, at the end of the school day. Wearing her green Harker Athletics jacket, she reaches through the back window of her car to say hello to her...

“[Game theory] showed me how there’s so many consequences of doing some action. For example, moral hazard and the concept of people offloading their risk. It’s so interesting to me how all these different people can be interconnected in their decisions. And I just think it’s allowed me to think about my decisions better,” Vishnu Jaisim (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Effervescent economics

by Athreya Daniel and Saahil Thoppay March 12, 2020

At the lunch tables outside Manzanita Hall, Vishnu Jaisim (12) grabs his polished fork and waves it side-to-side in the air, hands moving energetically and animatedly as he crisply and clearly articulates...

“A lot of people … don’t have the same opportunities that I’ve been given as I’ve grown up, so I feel like my ability to sort of help them and give them some of the opportunities that I’ve had is special to me. I think that playing soccer is just a good way for everyone to destress, be active, interact with other people, make friends and just have a good time,” Darshan Chahal (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Kicking for a cause

by Eric Fang, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief March 12, 2020

Darshan Chahal (12) races down the field, expertly dribbling a soccer ball between his feet before being blocked by an opponent. With one quick feint to the right, Darshan kicks the ball left to his waiting...

“School and volleyball are really the same thing … they’re parallel. When you’re down in volleyball, you have to keep on going, just like in your studies. I think now I’m doing an excellent job of balancing my three aspects of life: activities, social life and sleep,” Liam Bakar (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Playing with a smile

by Brian Chen and Nicholas Wei March 11, 2020

At the center of the court, knees slightly bent, Liam Bakar (12) focuses his eyes upon the opposing team. The whistle blows, and the ball soars over the net. A tightly organized network of bodies move...

“Artificial intelligence could be used in a peaceful way that ensures humanity prospering, or it could be used in a way that will accidentally make killer robots that will eat the planet. You laugh a little bit, but it is a somewhat legitimate risk. I genuinely think that the only way we will be able to respond to these challenges is by students having a better basis in philosophy because having a robust philosophical background based on a diverse set of fields gives us the broader understanding to recognize what impacts our technology will have,” Quentin Clark (12) said.

Humans of Harker: A philosophical understanding

by Muthu Panchanatham, Sports Reporter March 10, 2020

He sits on a bench, looking into the distance, quietly observing the scenery around him and toying with fascinating ideas running through his mind. With his arms crossed and a pensive look in his eyes,...

“Every single practice, I practiced, did what I was supposed to, and I got better. [Academics] is the same – you’re not going to get results if you don’t put in the work,” Vedanth Sundaram (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Sports and science

by Saurav Tewari, Sports Reporter March 9, 2020

Between the legs. Behind the back. Eyes on the defender, watching his movements. The defender’s feet shift. Suddenly, Vedanth Sundaram (12) takes off toward the basket, laying the ball in just as the...

“Going out, and people complimenting me on my Indian dresses and stuff like that, I think just helped me see, ‘why am I hiding my difference?’ I think we should all celebrate our differences. I think dance really helped me see that because everybody I went to dance class with was so proud of their heritage and their culture, and so I was like, ‘why shouldnt I be?’,” Adhya Hoskote (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Choosing happiness

by Nilisha Baid, TALON Organizations, People and Social Media Editor March 9, 2020

The vibrant colors of her dress shine on stage, drawing all attention to a dancer as lights shine onto her. Flowing through each movement with practiced perfection, she begins to tell a story through the...

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