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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

“Ever since I was a little kid, I've always been drawn to anything art related. Whenever we had the choice of a creative project, I would always choose art; that's just how I felt like I could best express myself,” Jacqueline Au (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The art of creativity

by Michelle Liu, Winged Post Design Editor March 16, 2021

Sunlight dapples the serene, architectural design of Jacqueline Au (12)’s backyard. Sleek planes of grass, wood and stone intersect a low pale grey wall. A panel of water splashes softly as it falls...

“Cooking has been something I’ve explored during quarantine. I think that cooking has helped solidify a lot of chemical concepts whether it’s hydrogenation, protein structure, the maillard reaction, emulsions, and things like that. It just really makes what might otherwise be any other subject to be more tangible,” Russell Yang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Learning by doing

by Michael Eng, Multimedia Editor March 16, 2021

On Friday nights, most students spend their time relaxing or organizing their weekend plans.  But not Russell Yang (12). He’s in middle school mathematics department chair Vandana Kadam’s classroom...

“The field of neuroscience … I had always thought of it as something super technical. I didn't think I was able to get involved in it as a high schooler. The fact that I was able to get into what I thought would be a super technical field, and don't get me wrong, it definitely is, but I was able to get involved in it as a high schooler — I'm glad that I encountered it and that people exposed me to it,” Pramiti Sankar (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Freeing the mind

by Nicholas Wei, Humans of Harker Profiler March 16, 2021

Think about this: as you read these words on your screen, sensory cells in the back of your eyes are relaying millions of signals to regions of your brain, where they are interpreted into a cohesive image...

“Theater saved my life. I want to write for it, I want to tech it, I want to perform on its stage, I want to direct its actors; I want to do everything for it. It has done so much for me, and I cannot help but use all of my creative power to try and give back to the institution,” Alissa Gao (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Effort and expression

by Anika Mani, TALON Co-Student Life Editor March 15, 2021

Reaching for the door handle with a welcoming smile one warm morning, Alissa Gao (12) pulls open the door to their backyard, their two dogs trotting close behind. The sun shining brightly on the back patio,...

“I've definitely had problems with that, where you can psych yourself out so much before the race. You’re going to do bad if you have that mindset of I can't mess up, I can mess up. You’ve got to accept that things could go badly. You have to accept what comes with racing, which is unpredictable circumstances … You got to go into that race with a mindset of Plan A, but then there's also Plan B, since not everything's going to go your way,” Rhys Edwards (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Passion and perseverance

by Vishnu Kannan, Co-Sports Editor March 15, 2021

You would expect the average high school student to be fast asleep at 4:30 a.m., but Rhys Edwards (12) is no such student. By then, Rhys has forced himself out of bed, after overcoming the irresistible...

“It's nice to almost not know what you're going to write about until your pen touches the paper. There's something about writing where, for me personally, I'm able to explore parts of what I'm thinking about that I wouldn't have been able to even know without writing. I'm able to find things that I didn't even know I was worrying about or that I was happy about until I write,” Sara Yen (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Writing for the right reasons

by Emily Tan, Winged Post Features Editor March 15, 2021

Sitting serenely on a wooden bench in her backyard next to a colorful selection of Moleskine notebooks and mechanical pencils, Sara Yen (12) journals quietly as her pen comes to life with dance and her...

“I want to be remembered for actually doing things I’m interested in. I don't think there’s an activity I’ve done in high school that I haven’t enjoyed, so everything I’ve done has been completely worth it, because I like doing it, and there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing,” Nathan Ohana (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Proving a point

by Anika Mani, TALON Co-Student Life Editor March 5, 2021

The warm sun shines down on the finely cut grass at De Anza Park in Cupertino. Faint noises of children joyfully playing echo in the background as Nathan Ohana (12) rides his bike across a thin path. Breaking...

“I gather different parts of myself from each environment I'm in. Some traits come from my friends, some come from my parents, some come from what I've learned at school or something, or internal conflicts … it's different within each one,” Advika Phadnis (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Melodies and morsels

by Jasleen Hansra, TALON Co-People Editor March 5, 2021

Advika Phadnis’ (12) face is taken over by a smile as she laughs at a joke her friend makes across the table. The buzz of Philz Coffee continues in the background as she turns back to her computer to...

“Some things are out of your hands, and all you can do is put your best foot forward, and then whatever happens happens. I don't want to necessarily become anyone, I just want to be a better version of myself . . .  I want to be remembered as a really kind person and a good friend,” Sarah Raymond (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Act it out

by Tina Xu, TALON Photo Editor March 4, 2021

If you’re a Harker student, you’ve definitely seen Sarah Raymond (12) on stage. From acting in the Student Directed Showcase (SDS) to participating in the fall play, the musical and Downbeat, Sarah...

“There are lots of small hurdles, and everybody has their own challenges that they face. Whether it be me making croissants for the first time and having them turn out great, or getting into Fringe and performing in front of a huge audience of real musical critics, I try to celebrate every accomplishment,” Evan Bourke (12) said.

Humans of Harker: From singing to cinnamon rolls

by Esha Gohil, Humans of Harker Co-Managing Editor March 4, 2021

Clad in a black number 87 Patriots jersey, a tall blonde boy lounges languidly on a chair, his dark blue zip up hoodie hanging off his shoulders as he takes a large swig from a brown bottle. This scene...

“When you're running on your own, there's nothing really stopping you from just walking, other than your own motivation to get better. A major part of cross country is that it's a mental sport because of ... self motivation — learning how to motivate myself to push harder and do better has carried over to other aspects as well,” Aditya Singhvi (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The tracks of community

by Irene Yuan, Multimedia Editor February 25, 2021

With music blasting through the speakers, some high school students ran their races while others stood by and waited for their own. Aditya Singhvi (12) recalls the details and atmosphere of one particular...

“I want to give back in a meaningful way that not only helps people that don't have the same resources as me, but also is fun in the process. I know a lot of things can be super overwhelming at times, and everyone experiences it, so I want to create an environment that's carefree and a safe space for people to just express themselves and allow them to find that passion that I found through volunteering and research,” Rhea Nanavati (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Find the kindness within

by Ritika Rajamani, TALON Co-Academics Editor February 18, 2021

Sitting under the shade of a tree at Cuesta Park, Rhea Nanavati (12) stares up at the sight around her—numerous large trees on a carpet of luscious grass, children laughing and playing around her. As...

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