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 be remembered as someone who, every time they were given a job to do or a role to fulfill, always did more than just that role. In a lot of the things that I do, Im very passionate about them, and so Im always expanding on the duties I already have. Im always trying to do more than whats strictly given to me because I feel like it just makes life more interesting,” Aastha Mangla (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Directing change

by Desiree Luo, Co-Features Editor February 26, 2023

The Athletic Center buzzes with the energetic ambiance typical of any school meeting. Muted conversations descend down the bleachers as students wait for the next speaker to approach the stage. Near the...

“Its really worth it because of the feeling when you get a big accomplishment. Whether thats in the form of funding, like that $20,000 we won, or whether its just when you see today, 10 people ordered TuffToy toys, thats the feeling that keeps us motivated and keeps us wanting more. Thats what makes it worth it, that feeling of accomplishment — whether its big or small, it just feels good, because its yours,” Arin Jain (12) said.

Humans of Harker: A philanthropic pawprint

by Sidak Sanghari, HoH Profiler February 25, 2023

Heart beating, nerves racing. It’s the last pitch of the INCubatoredu National Pitch Competition in Chicago. Four teams have already pitched their apps and other technology platforms. The last group?...

“My favorite thing about journalism is just the culture. There are not many programs where there are so many students from different grade levels and different perspectives. Theres a very strong mentorship aspect to it all, and ever since I became a junior, and now as a senior, Ive been able to be that mentor to some of the younger students. It’s taught me a lot about what leadership means and what community means,” Sabrina Zhu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Courage in curiosity

by Lavanya Subramanian, TALON Co-Editor-in-Chief February 25, 2023

“Through the rally, what kind of impact do you hope to leave on other members of our generation?” Sabrina Zhu (12) asked. With her pen in hand, notebook open, and phone sitting on the table, Sabrina...

“The main [draw of hiking] is disconnecting from whatevers going on. I usually think about how Im doing and reflect on how Ive changed recently compared to before and also on any specific goals I should work on. There’s a lot of thoughtfulness while I hike, and I like enjoying the views, which are amazing,” Robert Zhang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Trailblazing the way

by Young Min and Tiffany Chang February 25, 2023

Looking for a hiking trail recommendation? Robert Zhang’s (12) got your back. He frequents Bay Area trails Mission Peak, Vista Point and Saratoga Springs, and, further north, Mount St. Helena and Mount...

“In freshman year, the pandemic hit. Starting junior year, I really started to think that Id missed out on a lot of the fun and cool things. I wish I could have done Model UN and gone to those conferences, I wish I could have done DECA, and by junior year, I was too late. Because of that, Ive decided to always take on whatever I can do and manage,” John Cracraft (12) said.

Humans of Harker: A taste for change

by Tiffany Chang and Hima Thota February 24, 2023

When John Cracraft (12) comes up in conversation, most people immediately picture a towering figure in the hallway, cracking jokes or proclaiming his love for chocolate milk. And while these are certainly...

“[Studying history] is less about the actual information in the actual story, and a lot more about the way you try to tell that story and the ways you try to explain things, or the way you try to form a narrative that focuses on certain things. Really, what history ends up being, rather than recitation of facts, is a lot of different ways of trying to tell a story, and thats a lot more stimulating,” Emmett Chung (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Buzzing in

by Sally Zhu, Co-Editor-in-Chief February 24, 2023

“This president gave his only campaign speech to placate a rival faction at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. This president received a personal request by one man to be appointed to a ‘Paris consulship’ —” Buzz. “Mary...

“After Im done writing a piece, I feel like I know myself a little bit better. As I write, I am unraveling my own identity, and sometimes Ill figure something out about my own psychology through my characters. Those little moments of revelation are cool,” Athena Wu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Writing a better future

by Claire Zhao, Asst. Copy Editor February 24, 2023

You may have seen Athena Wu (12) hanging out around Shah often. Perhaps you’ve come across her drawings and sketches, or maybe you've experienced her supportive and empathetic nature. But beyond what...

“Programming always has an impact — you can do things that you never thought were possible. You dont have to spend your time programming just to look more appealing to some job or college. You can do it because it actually makes the world a better place,” Arjun Barrett (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Solutions through software

by Edward Huang, Co-STEM Editor February 22, 2023

From Spanish conjugation tools to mobile scanner apps to data compression libraries, Arjun Barrett’s (12) coding abilities know no bounds. While the term “code” usually invokes images of hours-long...

“People think philosophy will get you nowhere, but we need to have people who think about the world philosophically. All the people who make change, like politicians and activists, are philosophers too. Whenever people espouse certain ideas about how the world should be, its philosophy. We all intuitively understand it,” Vincent Zhang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Confronting conundrums

by Claire Zhao, Asst. Copy Editor February 22, 2023

When asked about their hobbies, some people think of sports, art or anything in between. But for Vincent Zhang (12), the answer doesn’t stop at swimming and research; in his free time, he also thumbs...

“Staying in the moment, whether that be at practice or in game, and not worrying about what other people think — it helps. Thats one facet of my life that’s going to stay,” Abhi Namala (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The power of presence

by Kairui Sun, Reporter February 21, 2023

Three seconds. Abhi Namala (12) takes a couple of dribbles. Two seconds. He shoots. One second. The ball rattles off the rim as Abhi falls, but the referee’s whistle sounds for a foul. Without...

“My favorite conversations Ive had with people involve us talking about something really vague thats bothering them or thats bothering me, or an argument that’s always vague. I find that the biggest utility I have in that conversation would be making this vague thing on their mind something tangible and understandable for them by articulating it well. I find myself writing about topics that Ive talked about with other people, after listening to what they have to say and the problems that they have, Dyllan Han (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Progress over perfection

by Sidak Sanghari, HoH Profiler February 21, 2023

The hedgehog’s dilemma. Kanye West. YouTube video essays. Karl Marx. To the normal eye, they have nothing in common, but to Dyllan Han (12), they are all connected. He takes each one, fascinating and...

“Singing alone can be isolating, but in a group like Cantilena, sharing experiences with one another is such a comforting feeling. With Cantilena, if you make a mistake, its not a big deal because everyone knows what its like. Having a bunch of like-minded people in one place is such a great experience because you meet a lot of people who are just as passionate about singing as you are,” Anika Pandey (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Pitches and particles

by Gemma Chan, TALON Reporter February 20, 2023

Anika Pandey (12) recalls an end-of-year performance from third grade, standing on stage, as hundreds of parents gazed up at her, eager for her performance to begin. With sweaty hands, clenched fists and...

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