![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
There’s no place like home
A purring ball of fur jumps onto my desk, small paws pattering over pages of math homework. I laugh and move my cat off the table and onto my lap where she rests, eyes blinking slowly. The only study companion I need, albeit a sleepy one, she cheers me on with reassuring purrs while I focus on lines of polynomials and derivatives. Only at home can I find this encouragement while studying.
The comfort of my own room, my own space, reduces stress. I can concentrate better, making the learning process not just effective but also enjoyable. This not only enhances my focus, but also alleviates some of the stress I feel towards learning. The process of studying and retaining the information that I am reviewing becomes more sustainable.
Cafes are eternally permeated by the bubbling noises of their patrons. Even blasting my music sometimes doesn’t drown out the sounds of everyone else. At home, I can enjoy the soothing quiet of my own room, with only the whirring of my fan (and the purring of my cat) keeping me company.
Perhaps I am simply a homebody, but studying at my house is more convenient. For one, it eliminates the time expenditure that comes along with having to commute to and from cafes. When sitting at a cafe table, I can’t help but feel slightly anxious when working through homework or studying in public or wonder what everybody passing by thinks of me and my work.
I also feel a certain amount of pressure when considering going out to study — everyone around me at the cafe is always so well put-together, I have to dress up to their standards. As I live 10 minutes away from the nearest café, it is not worth the effort necessary to make myself fit to go out, and then to drive to the location, the process of having to leave my house cutting a fair chunk out of the time I would have to work.
Being at home also allows me a greater degree of flexibility in regards to when I start and stop studying. This flexibility caters to my peak productivity hours — as a night owl, a lot of cafes are closed when I am at my most focused. Nothing beats the satisfaction of a window, slightly ajar, blowing clean air into my room as my legs are warm and comfortable under a throw blanket beneath my desk.
Whenever I go to a cute cafe, I always find myself purchasing an overpriced drink, just for the cafe aesthetic. However, after purchasing all the necessary ingredients to make my own perfect matcha latte at home, I’ve found that the appeal of cafe-made drinks has decreased significantly. After all, my at-home replacement is both cheaper and more tailored to my own taste buds. I am able to experience the ambience of sipping on a pretty drink while taking notes without having to spend seven dollars for four ounces of ice!
Cafes are great places to go out and have fun, but not as great for when I need to put my head down and work. When studying, I definitely prefer the quiet coziness of my own room, with all the comforts of my house within a seconds’ walk away. Nothing can beat that!