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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

Humans of Harker: Drive for debate

Humans of Harker: Drive for debate

by Charlie Folk, TALON Co-Organizations Editor May 23, 2024

Rushing through a hotel hallway with papers fluttering and laptop clutched tightly in hand, Panav Gogte (12) frantically reviews his thorough research and talking points. These are the final minutes...

Humans of Harker: Rooted in care

Humans of Harker: Rooted in care

by Desiree Luo, Aquila Co-Managing Editor May 23, 2024

A fluffy golden retriever perks up. Her name is Lisa, and she is 10 years old. Barks echo around the house as she rounds the corner and trots through a series of hallways. She reaches a former bedroom...

“Getting in the mindset of a coach and a player helps gain a wider perspective, which is useful in lacrosse and in general. Coaching has opened new opportunities that I've never had before and it’s been really fun in regards to how I have worked with multiple teams besides the team I began coaching for," Chase White (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Playing it through life

by Jasmine Hansra, Reporter May 23, 2024

Cheers sound out through the field as the team runs up to one another, tired, but congratulating one another on a game well-played. The club went into the game expecting to be defeated by one of the...

Humans of Harker: Chorus of community

Humans of Harker: Chorus of community

by Cynthia Xie, Reporter May 23, 2024

A rich, velvety voice floats through the air, capturing a jovial melody and suffusing everyone in holiday cheer. Standing in front of the jazz band, Miki Mitarai’s (12) melodic singing draws in the...

“Something I keep in mind is always striving for more, and that’s what pushes me to try to see just how far my limits are to reach my full potential. I don’t want to not give something my best and regret that. I may not be the best, but even if I’ve improved, I feel proud knowing that my efforts are working," Ipsita Mandal (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Diving in depth

by Claire Su and Ella Guo May 23, 2024

The splashing of water echoes throughout the pool as spectators hold their breath in anticipation. Ipsita Mandal (12) reaches the end of the lane, brimming with satisfaction of her efforts. After hours...

“I've always been on SAB because I see all the other kids for who we are. We are so academically competitive and focused. I want to be able to create events where people can take a step back and create spaces where people can chill with their friends and not have to worry about things. It means a lot to me to be able to see that," Harshini Chaturvedula (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Compassion in concerto

by Aishani Singh, Aquila Co-Managing Editor May 23, 2024

Silence and darkness permeate the Patil Theater as the audience quietly waits for the orchestra to begin playing in the annual BAD assembly. Suddenly, with a quick wave of the conductor’s arms, high-tempo...

"I owe a lot to photography, because it allowed me to become a lot more sociable. As an underclassmen, I was a pretty timid guy, and I kind of cowered behind the camera. I realized that would not get me the results I really wanted, and so in order to overcome that, I need to be more talkative, break the barrier with who I'm shooting, get to know them as a person, crack jokes, stuff like that. That really helped me, not only with my photography, but also with who I was as a person. Through that subtle change in my mindset, I was able to expand my social abilities, but also just take better photos and tell stories better," Brandon Zau (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Frame by frame

by Kevin Zhang, Aquila Co-Managing Editor May 23, 2024

Brandon Zau (12) recalls walking the calm evening streets of a Hong Kong market with his family, immersed in a sea of soft chatter from vendors and fellow customers. As they browsed through shops in...

“I'm an optimist. If something were to go wrong, I am not the first person to throw in the towel. I will fight as far as I can, to the end to get what I want, so sometimes it's a good thing. Sometimes that can cause our own downfall, like pursuing the sunk cost fallacy. I have fallen victim to that a lot. But overall, I do think I have a positive personality," Nikhil Ranjit (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Rising with resilience

by Mirabelle Feng, TALON Co-People & Seniors Editor May 22, 2024

Amid the vibrant music and melodies of the 2023 Harker spring Orchestra concert, Nikhil Ranjit (12) prepares to play his bassoon solo, which he practiced to perfection in the previous months. This...

Humans of Harker: A balancing act

Humans of Harker: A balancing act

by Minal Jalil, Assistant Features Editor May 22, 2024

As the blackout curtain lifts, unveiling the silhouettes of members of the Harker Dance Company lined up in straight rows on stage, cheers and whoops echo from the audience who anticipate the performance...

"In all the things that I do, with theater, journalism, and choir, it’s interesting to me how they all give me a window into the real world. I think that sometimes we all get bogged down in negativity but I think the projects that I work on have a real impact on the community. It's inspiring to me and it reminds me that there's a real possibility for change," Selina Xu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Acting with authenticity

by Medha Yarlagadda, Aquila Co-Managing Editor May 22, 2024

Whether on stage or on campus, Selina Xu (12) is immediately identifiable. She uses her acting talent to promote change and inspire others to contribute in the community. Selina’s bright smile, unapologetic...

Humans of Harker: Painting pictures with perspicacity

Humans of Harker: Painting pictures with perspicacity

by Ella Guo, Humans of Harker Co-Managing Editor May 22, 2024

Spirals of blue and purple paint the canvas, creating a swirl of mixed colors. Tiny people dot the edge of a chasm, hoping to get across a wall. A small ladder in the distance eventually leads up to...

“I've always considered myself an optimist; I've never been able to find reasons to not be happy. If you just approach everything with that mentality of either ‘there's something I look forward to that is a positive outcome,’ or ‘there's something positive I can do to remedy the situation,’ it's very difficult to feel upset," Tanisha Singh (12) said.

Humans of Harker: An optimistic outlook

by Vivek Moorjani and Claire Su May 22, 2024

The bell rings. Students hurriedly stream out of the computer science classroom. Amid the bustle, one student remains seated. Oblivious to the fact that she was the only one left, Tanisha Singh (12)...

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