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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

“What wakes me up in the morning and what keeps me up at night is the fact that I feel like I have a responsibility to do what I can and to take that extra step to help someone somewhere in the world. I want to be remembered through the stories of what people experienced being with me rather than being remembered as a bunch of titles,” Suman Mohanty (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Fighting disease with kindness

by Emma Gao and Trisha Iyer April 9, 2021

As a student passionate about medicine from an early age, Suman Mohanty (12) quite expectedly spends most of her free time volunteering at her local hospital. But her favorite part of the work isn’t...

“Becoming" is a 421 page memoir by former first lady Michelle Obama that was first published on Nov. 13, 2018. Obama is also the author of “American Grown."

Politics, race, family: Michelle Obama shares her challenges and triumphs in “Becoming”

by Lucy Ge, Winged Post News Editor April 9, 2021

Lucy's ranking: ★★★★★ As I flipped through the first pages of Michelle Obama’s memoir, “Becoming,” I felt as if Obama herself was sitting next to me, speaking directly to me in a candid,...

“[Volleyball has] been a huge part of my high school experience … I [now] view myself as a stronger person, as opposed to going into high school, [when] I was shy and timid and not really sure of my place. But after playing especially school volleyball, my views on how I interact with people and on myself have changed for the better,” Michelle Ning (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The beauty of unity

by Claire Su and Jessica Tang April 9, 2021

Awaiting the opponent’s serve, Michelle Ning (12) stands on the volleyball court. The moment the ball floats over the net, Michelle’s stance shifts by instinct, preparing to set the ball. Shouts and...

“If you hit a bad shot, don't let that get in the way of your next point, because you always play each point point by point. You forget the mistake you made. Learn from that, and do only what you can control. Apply that in tennis and don't let that ruin your match,” Kelcie Fan (12) said.

Humans of Harker: From candle light to flame

by Anika Maji and Brittany Tsui April 8, 2021

Outgoing. Warm. Kind. Patient. Loyal. Leader. When describing Kelcie Fan (12), these are some common responses, and for good reason—her likability, caring nature and ability to bond with others are prevalent...

"Don't lose the parts of yourself that make you, you. You don't have to let go of the things you love to be successful in the future. If anything, that's what makes you special when you move on later in your life," Katerina Fenner (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The value of music

by Claire Bauschlicher and Tanya Karpinchyk April 7, 2021

A young Katerina Fenner (12) enters the stage, greeted by a round of applause. Sitting down in front of the grand piano in the middle of the stage, she begins to play Haydn’s “Sonata in D Major,”...

“The main lesson I learned was to keep doing what I wanted to do whether or not people really have anything else to say. I've stuck with squash because I enjoyed it, not really because I was that amazing at it or that I was some prodigy. It was about how fun I really found the sport and continuing to do what I liked,” Aditya Roy (12) said.

Humans of Harker: From courts to computers

by Nicholas Wei, Humans of Harker Profiler April 7, 2021

Picture playing tennis with a friend on a sunny court. Then, imagine that you’re playing with a rubber ball instead, smaller and much faster than a tennis ball. Next, visualize four walls around the...

“Being friendly and approachable … are things that I value a lot. As a person, I'd like to be remembered as someone who would be there for you if you needed it and lend a helping hand,” Katie Li (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Resilience and resolve

by Sania Gupta and Maggie Yan April 7, 2021

Golden leaves coating the sidewalk, Katie Li (12) strolls through her neighborhood, water bottle in hand. Petrichor fills the air as she admires her surroundings on her walk, missing her pre-quarantine...

"I want to be remembered for being a person who's always there for people to talk to, and I want to be that person who people can come to whenever they have a problem or if they want to talk or if they have good news or bad news, and they want to share it," Ankita Kundu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Your daily dose of compassion

by Arjun Barrett and Aastha Mangla April 7, 2021

Fingers twirling around a black pen, Ankita Kundu (12) hums lightly as she scribbles down the next sentences to decorate her letter. The words come quick as she remembers who she’s writing to, words...

"STEM Spotlight" is a new Aquila repeater showcasing STEM clubs and their initiatives.

STEM Spotlight: Biotechnology Club

by Sabrina Zhu, Assistant STEM editor March 27, 2021

STEM Spotlight is a new repeater exploring what clubs at Harker have been doing during remote learning. This week’s featured club is the Biotechnology Club, whose goal is to provide a hands-on experience...

American cinema strongly reflects the cultural prejudices of 20th century America. Only with strong participation and representation will Asians move to our rightful place as central contributors to American culture.

Hidden behind a mask: American cinema’s inauthentic portrayal of Asian Americans

by Nicole Tian, Opinion Editor March 26, 2021

Authorities stated that the shooter who killed eight people in Atlanta on Tuesday, six of whom were Asian women, hoped to “eliminate” a “temptation.” The intersection of the victims’ race and...

"Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" is a 274 page novel by Anne Lamott that was first published on May 5, 1994. Lamott is also the author of "Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year," "Traveling Mercies" and
"Almost Everything: Notes on Hope."

Taking flight: Discovering a candid, transformative message in “Bird by Bird”

by Arya Maheshwari, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief March 26, 2021

Arya's ranking: ★★★★☆ Weaving witty dialogue together with honest reflection, “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions to Writing and Life" surveys the realities of writing and its extensions to...

Over 2,500 protestors gathered at the #StopAsianHate Community Rally at San Jose City Hall on Sunday, Mar. 21, at 1 p.m. to protest the recent violence against Asian Americans across the nation. The rally focused on Asian American discrimination, minority intersectionality, recent injustices against elderly Asian Americans and the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) discrimination in the United States.

#StopAsianHate Community Rally ushers in thousands of protesters

by Alysa Suleiman, A&E Editor March 24, 2021

"One beat. One heart.”  Over 2,500 protestors gathered at the #StopAsianHate Community Rally at San Jose City Hall on Sunday, March 21, at 1 p.m. to protest the recent violence against Asian...

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