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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

“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. It's like that feeling when your lungs feel like they can't expand. And you can't see anything. You can't even see a couple feet in front of you — I couldn't 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 you're 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, I'm 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 it's not as questionable because I've set this tone that I'm 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 don't really care whether I'm 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 that's 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 aren't being informed of a lot of things. We live in ignorance. I was put on this earth, and I feel like if I don't do anything, it’s just such a waste of a life. I actually want to make an impact, or else my life is pointless. I'm 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 it's so much about your look," Haley Keller (12) said. "So she's 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...

"I don't care about things, I care about people,” Mallory Millard (12) said. “A lot of times, people form connections for the wrong reasons. I value the relationships you have with people where you can just be with them, and be completely comfortable without saying a single word. If you can go over and nap at someone's house and they're just cool with it, or they nap too, I think that's a real friend right there."

Humans of Harker: Mallory Millard cares about human connection

by Farah Hosseini, Reporter November 16, 2017

When photographing her subject, Mallory Millard turns her attention to the less noticeable features in a picture to fully capture every emotion portrayed. “When you see a picture of somebody and a...

“Even though the kicker doesn’t get much respect, every team needs a kicker,” Dominic Cea (12) said. “You can be a hero or a villain. I thrive on the pressure—I like to be in the crunch time situations. It gives me a rush of adrenaline, and I like to try to be the hero. Everyone has their role to play, whether it's on the football field or in the workplace. I think wherever you go, there are always going to be roles that are bigger and everyone cares about, but there's always going to be people in the shadows doing a lot of work that people don't see.”

Humans of Harker: Dominic Cea puts in work behind the scenes

by Eric Fang, Global Editor November 15, 2017

Dominic Cea (12) wakes up at 6:00 a.m. every morning with a singular goal: college football. At 6:15 a.m., he runs half a mile around his nearby Silver Leaf Park. Just prior to going to bed, he performs...

“I think it's really easy to become fixated on what's going on in your life and forget about what is going on around you,” Ananya Krishnan (12) said. “I wish that schools would emphasize current events more in order to teach us about the world we are living in and going to be living in. I bet if you go up to any Harker kid, they'll be much more knowledgeable about World War II or the Great Depression than the events that are taking place all around them in real time.”

Humans of Harker: Ananya Krishnan keeps a global perspective

by Arya Maheshwari, Reporter November 14, 2017

Incoming freshmen have a choice of courses to fill their Extra Period Option. Some choose dance; others choose Bel Canto; others choose a free period. Ananya Krishnan (12) chose Principles of Business...

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