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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

Humans of Harker: Process over product

Humans of Harker: Process over product

by Emma Milner, Aquila Editor-in-Chief May 29, 2025

In one moment, Keren Eisenberg ('25) sits at the potter’s wheel alone, carefully attuned to the work-in-progress in front of her. In the next, she leads her team with maturity and care in the chaotic...

Humans of Harker: Turn to talent

Humans of Harker: Turn to talent

by Shiv Deokar, TALON Co-Student Life Editor May 28, 2025

The audience in the ballet studio hushes as Caitlyn Wong ('25) steps onto the stage. As the music starts, it seems to take over her. She punctuates every note with emotion, twirling and treading across...

“All my hobbies are about communication, which is something that rose very early in my childhood. When I'm shadowing a physician, it’s about, ‘She mentioned this drug, let me go home and research that.’ But at the same time, it's, ‘How is she making the patient feel more comfortable?’ When I'm outdoors in my Boy Scouts troop, it's about how can I bring all of that together,’” senior Shiven Balaji said.

Humans of Harker: Service, scouts and support

by Victoria Li, Humans of Harker Managing Editor May 28, 2025

The campfire flames crackle, sending sparks swirling in the night and illuminating Boy Scouts group members in its warm glow. Shiven Balaji ('25) sits in a circle with his Boy Scouts of America troop,...

Humans of Harker: Aficionado of the arts

Humans of Harker: Aficionado of the arts

by Emma Milner, Aquila Editor-in-Chief May 28, 2025

A spotlight illuminates Shruti Srinivasan ('25) — now a senior, then a fifth grader — as she dons a crimson velvet cloak and takes center stage. The melody plays, and Shruti, portraying King Arthur,...

“Small improvements culminate in bigger goals. Tiny steps like increasing the efficiency of an algorithm, adding new features or beating personal records little by little, always lead to something better," senior Daniel Gergov said.

Humans of Harker: Small steps to sizeable success

by Victor Gong, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief May 28, 2025

Is it an A or D day? Where can I sign up for clubs? How many spirit points does my class have? What’s for lunch? With schedules, events, and announcements constantly changing, staying organized can...

“It's almost like you have to practice failing. Going through that experience, you realize that it's not the end of the world. Don't be afraid to just try to veer off and try some more unconventional methods," Eric Zhang ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Colors of confidence

by Samaara Patil, TALON Photo Editor May 25, 2025

To many, Eric Zhang ('25) is renowned for his vibrant, long nails. For him, those colors represent a transformative journey toward self-discovery and confidence. When Eric was a frosh, he felt lost,...

“A specific aspect of volunteering that I love is seeing the actual difference you can make. It's very fulfilling. At the farm, when kids or people with disabilities come in and meet the animals, you can see the joy that it creates. It's really an unmatched experience to see that and to be a part of creating that," Avery Jones ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Paws and purpose

by Sarah Wang, TALON Conservatory Editor and PDA Manager May 25, 2025

Avery Jones ('25) hands a small guinea pig to a little girl at the Animal Assisted Happiness farm, expertly handling the animal. The visitor lights up with excitement, a large grin spreading across...

"Math is all about collaboration, much more than it is competition. It’s a subject where communication is indispensable, where you’re bound to need to consult other mathematicians for advice. I hope that I’ve been somebody who was always there to help and support other people, since math is so much more about working as a team than it is working alone," Alex Huang ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Computational connections

by Jonathan Szeto, Winged Post Managing Editor May 25, 2025

In his Signals and Systems class, Alex Huang ('25) stares intently at the math problem in front of him. He twirls a bright orange pencil around in his hand, thinking hard for solutions. It’s mystified...

“Photography reshaped the way I see certain things because it helps me see perspectives. There are a lot of different perspectives and a lot of different emotions that people have, so I feel like I can be more attuned to how people feel after looking at a lot of pictures of people's emotions and feelings," Angelina Burrows ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Snapping a shot

by Jasmine Hansra, TALON Organizations and People & Seniors Editor May 24, 2025

The roaring sound of rain surrounds the verdant park as the melodious laughter of a group of girls sneaks through the gaps of sound. Angelina Burrows ('25) tries to focus on the photos she wished to...

“I want to be remembered for being a good leader on campus in a variety of spaces, whether in a classroom or club. As a leader of MESA, I facilitate discussions about the Middle East. Although it’s a pretty contentious area, I’m proud of how we’re able to have a safe space where nobody has any problems with anyone else," Maziar Zhai ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Curious choices

by Mihir Kotbagi, Aquila Managing Editor May 24, 2025

Maziar Ziai ('25) dives into a spreadsheet recording the closing prices of various equities listed on American stock exchanges. After extracting a few relevant values, he runs a linear regression to...

“It's about the overlooked things. Lots of people look at mountains; these giant scenes can be seen as more appealing. But sometimes, there's nothing there. The beauty there is in the miniature stuff, like bees; that’s where the sublime is,” senior Jacob Smith said.

Humans of Harker: Passes and pollinators

by Gabe Sachse, Aquila Managing Editor May 24, 2025

In Gackle, North Dakota, population 280, one can seldom hear anything above a light buzz. Bees swarm the massive mounds of boxes that litter the fields of Miller Honey Farms, a honey production operation...

Humans of Harker: Programming an impact

Humans of Harker: Programming an impact

by Isabella Wong, Reporter May 24, 2025

You switch tabs to the bell.harker.org website, peering at the layout of your classes, excitedly watching the thin red line count down the minutes to lunch after conveniently checking the menu with...

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