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

“The journey of exploratory academics is supposed to be finding stuff you enjoy or trying something new. I want to be remembered for enjoying teaching, trying out history for the first time and finding out that I enjoyed it and as someone who enjoys sharing knowledge. Because just as I pass down what I know to the class of ‘24, ‘25, ‘26 and now ‘27 and ‘28, I want them to do the same for ‘29, ‘30 and ‘31, Stephen Xia (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Integrating interests

by Emma Gao, Co-News Editor January 21, 2023

On a whiteboard at the front of the middle school math classroom, Stephen Xia (12) writes down four columns in red marker: Old, New, Extra, Schedule. Impending tasks, new ideas, possible initiatives and,...

“What I felt being on stage used to be nervousness. Now, when Im on stage, I’m empowered, especially when there’s an audience — its motivating. I enjoy having many performance opportunities, because I get to experiment with different musical choices. A good performance is almost cathartic, and I get very carried away on stage, lost in the moment. And when it ends, it feels like I have released my burdens, Alan Jiang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The beat goes on

by Shareen Chahal, Asst. News Editor January 18, 2023

The distant chatter of students hustling around the middle school echoes in the background as Alan Jiang (12) taps his microphone, rehearsing the choreography and music in his head. He hums the opening...

“I used to think that I shouldn’t try if I’m not already good at it, which hurt me because I didn’t put my best effort into some things. If I go in with an ’all or nothing’ mindset, it helps motivate me to try my best at the things that I do, Ananya Bammi (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Pinpointing passions

by Claire Su, TALON Conservatory Editor January 17, 2023

Colored thumbtacks dot the wall, piercing through the fabric behind them. White, jagged outlines trace around labeled regions of land and water: North America, Europe, the Atlantic Ocean. Thinner lines...

“Ive always been really grateful for my education. Im grateful to be able to learn and be able to help at least a small community. Ive always been the kind of person who cannot leave without making a change. I want to focus on driving change and working on something that will help people, leaving the world better than you found it, Radha Mehta (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The art of learning

by Sidak Sanghari, HoH Profiler December 7, 2022

Radha Mehta (12) remembers the first time she picked up a camera in her junior year AP Studio Art class with nothing but a desire to capture the world around her in a versatile way. What she didn’t realize...

Being able to have a physical product from my art kind of gives it a sense of permanence, Ashley Ruan (12) said. Its something I can give to my family and my friends as a gift, and I feel like it feels more personal because its something that, I guess reminds them of either me or just my art.

Humans of Harker: From figure skater to figure creator

by Sally Zhu, Co-Editor in Chief November 29, 2022

Ashley Ruan (12): I started skating when I was five or six, after my first lesson. I mean, it was hard, but it was really fun. So I guess I just continued skating since I really enjoyed the feeling...

“Singing is a catharsis for me. When I sing, I’m able to bond with the people I sing with, and I’m able to forget about the daily stresses of everything. At school, I don’t think I’ve felt more free than when I’m singing. It’s the way I express myself: sing with friends and have fun, Anthony Zhao (12) said.

Humans of Harker: From chorus to course

by Vika Gautham, Assistant Features Editor November 8, 2022

Anthony Zhao (12) recalls the joyful tune of “Deck the Halls” as Downbeat sang in front of Pier 31 for their annual holiday tour, the music flowing through the numbing air. Smiling brightly, he sang...

“I enjoy the little things like memorizing the conjugations of a word or following a cell through its way of life. I feel like a lot of people might find it challenging or boring, but I have fun, Michelle Dorfman (12) said.

Humans of Harker: It’s all in the details

by Margaret Cartee, Opinions Editor November 8, 2022

Though biology and language courses are seemingly disparate disciplines, one based on STEM and the other on humanities, they actually share more similarities than what meets the eye. Both subjects require...

“[High school is] finite but not finite. Its finite in the sense that its going to eventually end. If you realize the finiteness of it, you learn to value the experiences you gain from it more, but its somewhat infinite too because the influences you gain from high school and the experiences of your high school journey are not over once you graduate high school, Austina Xu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Expressing the infinite through the finite

by Isha Moorjani, Co-Editor-in-Chief October 31, 2022

Splashes of blue spiral with swirls of green, sharing a pas de deux on a glossy glass canvas as they effortlessly stream out of a thin paintbrush. This nebula of paint and color, expanding and spreading...

“I never thought that I would be involved in so many things. I just thought it would not be possible. I thought that even if I did, I would be completely miserable. But right now, Im extremely happy: Ive just been enjoying my life, while also being involved in activities that make me truly happy, Krish Maniar (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Taking kicks and taking risks

by Gemma Chan, Reporter October 23, 2022

The game clock ticks down to its last seconds. The championship game and 2015 Morgan Hill District Cup title now rely on Krish Maniar (12). He secures the soccer ball between his feet and kicks it straight...

“The amount of work that went into crafting fantasy worlds makes reading about them an enjoyable experience. Even though its fictional, there is still reason for it and a sense of understanding. There has been a lot of meticulous world-building and in-depth characters, Ethan Joseph (12) said.

Humans of Harker: In between pages

by Saahil Herrero, Reporter October 20, 2022

Some people think of reading as a pastime. Others consider it a requirement for certain classes. Before his sophomore year, Ethan Joseph (12) was part of the latter group. However, during the pandemic,...

“With programming, after working for a while, I could see my entire project come to life. Everything happened at once. Once I could see it all happening, it was just a big sense of accomplishment that I couldnt really find anywhere else, Saahil Thoppay (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Archives and algorithms

by Ella Yee, Co-News Editor October 19, 2022

A symphony of clattering keyboards echoes through the room, punctuated by occasional friendly banter. A group of students sit in a row facing their laptops, each with their eyes glued to the screen in...

“The thing that keeps me inspired is the gratification I get when I see a girl whos never learned programming before become so excited about it and continue it. The fact that I can inspire someone to that level keeps me going, Amiya Chokhawala (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Planting seeds of care

by Sarah Mohammed, Winged Post Co-Editor-in-Chief October 9, 2022

Amiya Chokhawala (12) keeps her eyes open. Curious about the world, attentive to the planet and sensitive about others’ feelings, she identifies as honest, creative and empathetic. If she sees a person...

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