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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

“If there's a certain route that I'm working on, I know I'm not going to get it immediately. If I want to challenge myself, I have to take time to slowly work on it and not expect perfection from the beginning. Rock climbing helps me think about life in terms of just chipping at it and not tackling everything head-on as a whole,” Aaron Tiritoglu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Scaling new heights

by Emma Milner, Asst. Sports Editor March 5, 2023

With laser focus, Aaron Tiritoglu (12) locks his eyes on the next hold, a vibrant colored shape perched tantalizingly out of reach on the 12-foot wall. He carefully navigates the route that he has set...

“To me, you have to make meaning in your life. You can’t just find meaning; it’s not a thing that’s just waiting for you to grab. You have to actively go everyday to choose what will be meaningful to you and work very hard to make sure you get that meaning. The activities I choose to do, I work every day to make sure that they are as meaningful to me as possible, that I care about them,” Amruta Dharmapurikar (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Pursuer of purpose

by Emma Gao, Co-News Editor March 5, 2023

As an avid news-reader since middle school, Amruta Dharmapurikar (12) first noticed the differing perspectives presented by each news source when she began jumping from one to the other. The way each site...

“You can learn from the past but you can't change it so there's no point in worrying about it. The thing is making time for yourself. It's the ‘work hard play hard’ idea. During the times where you have to work, you have to put 100% of your focus into it, and when you've completed whatever you need to do, you can actually relax,” Eddie Sun (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Euphonic edification

by Alison Yang, Asst. A&E and Lifestyle Editor March 5, 2023

As the sky turns dark and Eddie Sun (12) finishes the last of his assignments of the day, he grabs his Ibanez SR300E, four thin, sturdy strings running across a sleek, steel blue bass, by the neck. Maybe...

“Martial arts has made me more confident in myself and my strength, knowing that if I ever did get into a dangerous situation, I would have those skills to help me. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but knowing that I have the ability to protect myself is something that's really comforting to me,” Sara Bhowmick (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Punches of persistence

by Ashley Mo, Reporter March 5, 2023

Like many others, Sara Bhowmick (12) once had misconceptions about martial arts, viewing it as violent and unusual. However, after taking up the activity in first grade, her perspective changed completely,...

“I’ve learned to follow through on something that I actually find interesting, rather than half-heartedly doing things. Once you commit to something, you really want to put all your effort into it. BEcon and Kinetic Krew have helped me develop discipline, beyond just motivation, to actually be consistent in what I do, and make sure that I’m putting my full effort in the things I do,” Nikhil Devireddy (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Power moves

by Alvira Agarwal and Lavanya Subramanian March 4, 2023

A quiet lull fell over the Nichols atrium. Sitting at a table by the building’s entrance, Nikhil Devireddy (12) recalls tapping his fingers on his leg nervously as he awaited the oncoming crowd of attendees....

"There are many ways people can express themselves. I put a lot of myself into my art, a lot of effort and a lot of time, so what I create reflects me as well," Kurtis Tong (12) said.

Humans of Harker: A kick of creativity

by Olivia Xu and Jessica Wang March 4, 2023

Kurtis Tong (12) collects shoes. Whether they’re cloudy gray and decorated with turquoise laces, sea blue and illuminated by a sunny yellow lining or a simple matte black, countless shoes sit in Kurtis’s...

“The journey that I have taken will change me to be a much better and different person. Even if I don’t become an astronaut, I’ll still have my pilot license, and I’ll still have all the experiences, knowledge and skill that I’ve gained from learning how to fly,” Jeremy Ko (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Soar high

by Saahil Herrero and Tiffany Chang March 4, 2023

While many teenagers put off driving until they are older, Jeremy Ko (12) stands out amongst the crowd — not only can he operate a car, but he has also acquired the skills to pilot a plane. In fact,...

“Doing what I love made [high school] so worth the experience. I never felt like I was pushing myself to do it; I always felt I genuinely wanted to do it. That's something I want to keep doing as I get older. I don't want to be stuck doing things that I don't like, and I want to keep going in the areas I'm passionate about,” Annmaria Antony (12) said.

Humans of Harker: A crown for a cause

by Charlize Wang, Reporter March 3, 2023

An off-the-shoulder, silver Terani Couture gown drapes down to Annmaria Antony’s (12) feet, adorned with shimmering sequins and sparkles. Thin, light gray feathers line the bottom of the dress, lending...

“To sum it up, golf is stressful but exciting at the same time. It’s like every hole is a reset and a chance for something special to happen,” Wyatt Cote (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Piloting dreams

by Kinnera Mulam, Co-STEM Editor March 3, 2023

While completing homework, hanging out with friends, and playing sports are popular weekend activities among high school students, Wyatt Cote (12) stands out for his unique hobby of professionally flying...

“To me, dance is an art form. It's been an important outlet for me to express my emotions or how I'm feeling using my body. It's unique because you're using yourself as a medium to express what you're feeling, and I think that's something that's super special and really organic,” Eileen Ma (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The art of expression

by Eva Cheng, Reporter March 2, 2023

“Woah!” someone shouts from the seats, as the blinding lights dim and the final notes of Whitney Houston’s classic ballad “I Will Always Love You” ring throughout the theater. On stage, a radiant...

“My favorite word is strength. Throughout the past four years, playing football has really developed my strength both mentally and physically. Mental strength is something that is essential for everyone. Especially if you are stressed out, during college applications or any other time you got a big test or even just other personal issues, mental strength is the one thing that you need to keep going,” Dylan Parikh (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Strength in care

by Gabe Sachse, Asst. Sports Editor March 2, 2023

The crunch of pads on a chilly Friday night rings out through Davis Field as two opposing defenders attempt to tackle Dylan Parikh (12), whose legs churn as he fights for the extra yardage needed to give...

“Be the best you. I always think about that every now and then. That's what inspires me to go back — to another day of track, another day of the gym or another art class,” Pranav Mullappalli (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Bold dashes

by Victor Gong, Asst. STEM Editor March 2, 2023

Warm sunlight beats down on the faded red track as Pranav Mullappalli (12) places his foot on the starting block, crouching down into a ready position. The stands go silent, and parents and teammates alike...

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