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

“I want to create something that hasn’t been created before. Math is the way I find best to do it, partly because it’s enjoyable to do, but also partly because that distillation of pure logic is one that’s very powerful and very fundamental,” Jack Hsieh (12) said.

Humans of Harker: On the verge of discovery

by Jonathan Xue, HoH Profiler March 15, 2023

Three. Two. One. Happy New Year! While others celebrate the occasion around him, Jack Hsieh (12) types away, enveloped in his mathematics research. After two years of tireless effort, he stands on the...

“In baseball, you can get away with a fluke hit. In football, a quarterback can misread an assignment, but your wide receiver can still make a great play. But in golf, you cant really get away with anything because its just you. Youve got no one else to blame but yourself. A lot of times I dont want to take the blame for certain actions. Golf is a place where you cant not take the blame because nobody else played but you,” Freddy Hoch (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Adapting to the course

by Smrithi Sambamurthy, TALON Sports Editor March 8, 2023

Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Kula Forest and the majestic West Maui Mountains, Freddy Hoch (12) steps onto the green fairway of the King Kamehameha Golf Course. As he lines up his shot, the crashing...

“When I went to Korea and came back, it really made me recognize, in the U.S., a lot of the troubles that we faced in the past few years are because people are becoming more individualistic and too focused on ‘me’ and not the rest of the community. Coming back from South Korea, thats something that I really internalized, Michelle Jin (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Narration with nuance

by Emma Gao, Co-News Editor March 8, 2023

“How can the federal government address racial disparities within the U.S. healthcare sector?” “If the U.S. is to retain prominence in global influence, what investment policies should it pursue...

“The attitude I live by is to try new things even if I dont know how to do it. Ive been trying to push myself in general, and doing so has allowed me to experience a lot more things that I wouldnt have if I never tried it in the first place. Im really glad that Im pushing myself to go outside my comfort zone,” Deeya Viradia (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Waves of change

by Jasmine Hansra, Reporter March 8, 2023

Growing up in Maryland surrounded by cornfields provided Deeya Viradia (12) with few sources of entertainment. However, Deeya channeled her creativity into building go-karts from skateboards and booster...

“I would say that basketball’s a break from school and stress. When Im in a game, I feel excited and happy to be playing with my team. Its definitely something I look forward to — playing games. Its adrenaline inducing,” Grace Hoang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Swishes and sells

by Katie Tcheng, Reporter March 7, 2023

The game clock ticks, another second gone. Grace Hoang (12) takes control of the ball, eyes darting around, searching for an opening. Spotting three defenders in her path, she makes a quick decision, passing...

“Weightlifting has changed what I value. Its made me a lot more ambitious. Before I did it, I was a bit complacent. I didnt really have any goals in life, but now my ambition has carried over to school in academics,” Leo Tuckey (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Raising the bar

by Katie Wang, TALON Photo Editor March 7, 2023

In an empty hallway of the Rothschild Performing Arts Center (RPAC), you’re likely to find a group of three or four seniors piled against a wall, using each other’s limbs to prop up their textbooks,...

“My mom always tells me this one thing: whenever I feel sad, she tells me that everything always works out. And its true. Knowing that what is happening now is temporary and that it will always end up on a better path helps me keep a better outlook on life,” Paulina Gicqueau (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Taking the stage

by Brenna Ren, Reporter March 6, 2023

Portraying the rose in her dance studio’s performance of “The Little Prince,” Paulina Gicqueau (12) glides across the stage with graceful fluidity, the red tulle of her dress flowing behind her....

“If theres a certain route that Im working on, I know Im 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 6, 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 cant change it so theres no point in worrying about it. The thing is making time for yourself. Its 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 youve 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 thats 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 5, 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....

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