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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

Behind the gatekeeping epidemic lies a greater web of problems. When students feel pressured to keep certain activities a secret, they lose the opportunity to bond over shared interests with peers.

Breaking the locks: Harker’s gatekeeping culture

by Victor Gong, Lily Shi, and Chelsea Xie February 6, 2025

Secret summer plans. Hidden nonprofits that don’t emerge until they’re featured in the news. Entire lives outside the classroom, beyond campus, that go entirely unacknowledged. Even between the closest...

The competitive culture Harker students have established exacerbates the pressure they feel when overwhelmed. Often times, this leads to cheating on tests or quizzes.

Shortcutting success

by Ashley Mo and Mihir Kotbagi November 21, 2024

Five minutes left on the clock. As the second hand ticks, a student racks their brain, attempting to remember how many carbon dioxide molecules are produced in cellular respiration. As they turn around...

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