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

“For me, when it comes to robotics for example, whether it’s about mechanical software, or outside of it, the work I do, and even with app development, I am able to learn so much about problem solving in general. You’re able to apply abstract problem solving techniques anywhere, Arjun Dixit (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Curiosity cracks the code

by Claire Bauschlicher and Michelle Wei June 28, 2022

Arjun Dixit (‘22) recalls tinkering away at his computer, breathing life into a robot with a tapping of keys. Arjun has fostered a lifelong fascination with electronics and begun to earnestly delve...

“Persistence and flexibility and resilience [are important in robotics]. Being able to take a failure in your prototype, for example, and solve the problems that arise when you encounter them, you need to be able to iterate on that quickly. And it definitely takes a good amount of dedication, because its so much time and effort, Alex Liou (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Revolutionizing and reinventing

by Selina Xu, Reporter June 27, 2022

Machinery and mechanical tools cram against walls and pile up on work benches, gleaming under the dim lighting of the robotics lab. In the corner of the room, bright orange, yellow and blue wires form...

“What drives me mostly is the pursuit of doing it well. I don’t like things being done badly, if I can help it. Some of it is just enjoyment, like game development or reading about Rome. I enjoy every moment I spend on it. For other stuff, it’s more of a sense of accomplishment. In baseball and coding, I strive to do the best I can do, because I can, Aaron Lo (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Innings and innovation

by Selina Xu, Reporter June 27, 2022

Wham! Aaron Lo ('22) recalls one of his most memorable moments playing baseball, during a game he played in middle school: the ball soaring through the air, the players watching in anticipation, his...

“Coming to terms with my multicultural identity has been a journey, and its definitely shaped me into the person I am today because I want to pay attention to not only my family stories but the stories of those around me. Its important to create this open environment where people not only feel vulnerable enough to share their stories but theyre encouraged enough to want to learn about the story of those around them, Andrea Thia (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Finding family

by Arely Sun, Aquila Co-Managing Editor June 27, 2022

Rows of yellow envelopes and multicolored plastic containers line the surface of a table in a warehouse. Andrea Thia (‘22) inspects the lids and bends down to gently place a purple sticker on each one,...

“Theres a fine line in the duality of thought between not thinking too much and constantly thinking. Its always good to have confidence in your own abilities, but being open to everything that people are saying and approaching things with an open mind is great toward not only understanding other peoples perspectives but also honing in on my own knowledge, Charles Ding (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Chicken or egg

by Mark Hu, Winged Post Managing Editor June 25, 2022

A blur of numbers flash by on a lit-up screen. Charles Ding (‘22) rapidly peels a hard-boiled egg, as its shell falls into a trash can below. Huddled around him, a group of friends watches on as one...

“I would worry about what other people thought about me, what my teammates were thinking. I got way too focused on that, so after a while, soccer wasn’t fun for me anymore. [But,] the school team is an environment where you can experiment and be creative with the ball, if you’re willing to take those chances, and I was able to do that, Muthu Panchanatham (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Scoring and scouting

by Vishnu Kannan, Aquila Co-Managing Editor June 22, 2022

A flash of green darts through the midfield, almost camouflaging with the light green turf on Davis Field. With quick, calculated strides, Muthu Panchanatham (‘22) weaves his way through a swarm of enclosing...

“Ive experienced a lot of disappointing moments, but the ratio of good to bad moments is so stark that [it] makes the good moments so good, because they stand out more. Piano has taught me how to go through struggle, how to persevere and that its okay to not be a perfectionist, Yejin Song (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Keys to connection

by Olivia Xu and Emma Gao June 16, 2022

Powerful. Passionate. Romantic. Singing melodies that make you feel like you’re soaring, flying with the notes the way a pianist’s fingers fly across a piano’s keys. Tunes that evoke your deepest...

“When you play soccer, you have more of a team mentality. You learn to accept people’s mistakes and keep moving forward from that, even though they might lead to a goal. [To me,] that is a good foundation for any friendship, Kate Leafstrand (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Dribbling with drive

by Shinjan Ghosh, TALON Co-Editor-in-Chief June 13, 2022

Illuminated by the warm glow of the bedside lamp, Kate Leafstrand ('22) sits surrounded by her friends on the bed of her hotel room. In the distance, waves crash onto the shore of Santa Cruz Beach as the...

“Im definitely a people person. It started from a fear of being alone, but once I got to be around people that make me happy — whether its people in the journalism room, or whether its friends outside or whether its family — I never wanted to get rid of that feeling, Anika Mani (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Keystone of the community

by Shinjan Ghosh, TALON Co-Editor-in-Chief June 13, 2022

The sun beats down on the pavement as Anika Mani ('22) places a pile of yearbooks down on a table outside of the journalism room on a warm May afternoon. With a spreadsheet of the entire student body pulled...

“Design has the power of communication, and the psychology behind that is really cool. I like to see things visually, and I really like designing things that fit into aesthetics. The way different compositions can change messages — that would be something really cool to study and work with in the future, Arianna Weaver (22) said.

Humans of Harker: The vitality of art

by Michelle Wei, Reporter June 12, 2022

Holding her paintbrush aloft, Arianna Weaver ('22) blends a streak of pink onto the dark indigo background of her latest painting, a depiction of a set of human lungs. The organs glow in warm yellows and...

I want to bring a lot of these topics that are more difficult to talk about, or taboo, to life. I want to incorporate my advocacy for these important issues in my goal as a performer and with the way that I give art to the world. I want to make the lonely feel heard, Callie Mayer (22) said.

Humans of Harker: Evoking emotion

by Lucy Ge, Aquila Co-Managing Editor June 12, 2022

Singing, dancing, acting. If you’ve seen any upper school performing arts show, whether it be a Downbeat performance or the fall play, chances are you’ve seen Callie Mayer ('22) on stage. Having been...

“Part of the reason why I am always open to trying new things, such as trying water polo, is because I am okay with not being good at it as long as I know that I am able to get better. I am a person who likes to put myself out there and see what I can do. When I really like things, I will continue to work at them even if I know that I am not the best person there, Sinaya Joshi (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Live and let live

by Ritika Rajamani, TALON Business Manager and PDA Editor June 3, 2022

Laughter fills the girls locker room as Sinaya Joshi (12) converses with her water polo teammates. Describing stories from her day, the bright smile never leaves her face. Looking toward her younger teammates,...

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