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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

Shreyas Chakravarty delivers a speech warning against blind competitiveness and for greater focus on values. "And you cannot connect your values to your actions without understanding the value of your actions, the input that you put into the world," Shreyas said. "And the way to do that is through service."

Seniors pass leadership onto juniors during Baccalaureate

by Cynthia Xie and Kairui Sun May 27, 2025

Upperclassmen, faculty and parents gathered at the Baccalaureate ceremony to celebrate the conclusion of high school for the Class of 2025 and the Class of 2026’s ascension to their role as seniors on...

“It's almost like you have to practice failing. Going through that experience, you realize that it's not the end of the world. Don't be afraid to just try to veer off and try some more unconventional methods," Eric Zhang ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Colors of confidence

by Samaara Patil, TALON Photo Editor May 25, 2025

To many, Eric Zhang ('25) is renowned for his vibrant, long nails. For him, those colors represent a transformative journey toward self-discovery and confidence. When Eric was a frosh, he felt lost,...

“A specific aspect of volunteering that I love is seeing the actual difference you can make. It's very fulfilling. At the farm, when kids or people with disabilities come in and meet the animals, you can see the joy that it creates. It's really an unmatched experience to see that and to be a part of creating that," Avery Jones ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Paws and purpose

by Sarah Wang, TALON Conservatory Editor and PDA Manager May 25, 2025

Avery Jones ('25) hands a small guinea pig to a little girl at the Animal Assisted Happiness farm, expertly handling the animal. The visitor lights up with excitement, a large grin spreading across...

"Math is all about collaboration, much more than it is competition. It’s a subject where communication is indispensable, where you’re bound to need to consult other mathematicians for advice. I hope that I’ve been somebody who was always there to help and support other people, since math is so much more about working as a team than it is working alone," Alex Huang ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Computational connections

by Jonathan Szeto, Winged Post Managing Editor May 25, 2025

In his Signals and Systems class, Alex Huang ('25) stares intently at the math problem in front of him. He twirls a bright orange pencil around in his hand, thinking hard for solutions. It’s mystified...

“Photography reshaped the way I see certain things because it helps me see perspectives. There are a lot of different perspectives and a lot of different emotions that people have, so I feel like I can be more attuned to how people feel after looking at a lot of pictures of people's emotions and feelings," Angelina Burrows ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Snapping a shot

by Jasmine Hansra, TALON Organizations and People & Seniors Editor May 24, 2025

The roaring sound of rain surrounds the verdant park as the melodious laughter of a group of girls sneaks through the gaps of sound. Angelina Burrows ('25) tries to focus on the photos she wished to...

“I want to be remembered for being a good leader on campus in a variety of spaces, whether in a classroom or club. As a leader of MESA, I facilitate discussions about the Middle East. Although it’s a pretty contentious area, I’m proud of how we’re able to have a safe space where nobody has any problems with anyone else," Maziar Zhai ('25) said.

Humans of Harker: Curious choices

by Mihir Kotbagi, Aquila Managing Editor May 24, 2025

Maziar Ziai ('25) dives into a spreadsheet recording the closing prices of various equities listed on American stock exchanges. After extracting a few relevant values, he runs a linear regression to...

“It's about the overlooked things. Lots of people look at mountains; these giant scenes can be seen as more appealing. But sometimes, there's nothing there. The beauty there is in the miniature stuff, like bees; that’s where the sublime is,” senior Jacob Smith said.

Humans of Harker: Passes and pollinators

by Gabe Sachse, Aquila Managing Editor May 24, 2025

In Gackle, North Dakota, population 280, one can seldom hear anything above a light buzz. Bees swarm the massive mounds of boxes that litter the fields of Miller Honey Farms, a honey production operation...

Humans of Harker: Programming an impact

Humans of Harker: Programming an impact

by Isabella Wong, Reporter May 24, 2025

You switch tabs to the bell.harker.org website, peering at the layout of your classes, excitedly watching the thin red line count down the minutes to lunch after conveniently checking the menu with...

Humans of Harker: Conservation and compassion

Humans of Harker: Conservation and compassion

by Katie Tcheng, TALON Managing Editor May 24, 2025

The crash of waves hitting the shore envelops the air. A bloom of glowing blue streaks dot the edge of the waves lapping against the shore, lighting up the cool night beach. The salty air from the...

“It's a whole different world, whether you're on the ocean by yourself or with whoever you're fishing with, and it's an escape from the rest of my life. When I'm doing these things, like camping or fishing, I have something else to focus on. I'm not thinking about the next project I have for English or whatever it is, and it gives me an actual break from everything," senior Brendon Hayes said.

Humans of Harker: Fishing for a brighter future

by Madelene Hu, Reporter May 24, 2025

Adrenaline rushes through Brendon Hayes ('25)'s veins as waves crash into the side of his vessel, nearly capsizing it. Torrents slam into, under and onto the ship as it plunges downwards, lurches up,...

“The most important thing to me is helping others and making other people feel happy. That's what brings me joy. And so I always try to take that into account every day and try to bring a smile to other people's faces," senior Ariana Gauba.

Humans of Harker: Champion of change

by Dyuthi Vallamsetty, Reporter May 24, 2025

12. That’s how many words Ariana Gauba (’25) lives by: “Take everything one step at a time and have compassion for yourself.” This simple phrase has guided Ariana through three transformative...

Humans of Harker: One feather at a time

Humans of Harker: One feather at a time

by Alvira Agarwal, TALON Managing Editor May 22, 2025

A quiet breeze ruffles a grassy terrain filled with bushes and rocks surrounding a trail. Surrounded by the trail is a still lake, completely undisturbed. Quiet footsteps sneak up towards a tree, before...

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