Skip to Main Content
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

“Sometimes when you're in the midst of things, it's kind of hard to see whether things are changing for the better or not. One part of being a leader is knowing where to put your own time and effort and energy into. You have to understand that sometimes things won't work out the way you want them to, but you just have to keep moving forward. Things will not fail because of one mistake or bump in the road," senior Atharv Goel said.

Humans of Harker: Grit and gears

by Yifan Li, TALON Editor-in-Chief May 29, 2025

The muffled sound of a roaring crowd seeps through the curtains separating the robotics competition field and the pits where Atharv Goel ('25) spins a red t-handle in a bolt. He pushes his safety glasses...

Humans of Harker: Sprinting towards self-fulfillment

Humans of Harker: Sprinting towards self-fulfillment

by Gabe Sachse, Aquila Managing Editor May 29, 2025

The steady din of an excited crowd slows to a hum as eight runners line up to begin their 100-meter race at the CCS Championships in Gilroy, California. Each athlete tensely moves into their starting...

“I've been doing programming and CS for a while, but I get a lot more enjoyment out of making games. It's something that will give me something tangible compared to working on code problems or fine tuning some specific software. This is a lot more physical to me, even though it's still digital. It feels a lot more personal because it's something that I can physically play," senior Pranav Sukesh said.

Humans of Harker: For the love of the game

by Shaina Cohen, TALON Organizations Editor May 29, 2025

A hack and slash 3rd person role-playing game. A Hansel and Gretel-themed cooking simulator. A 3D horror game set in a maze. These are just some examples of the games Pranav Sukesh ('25) creates. Combining...

“Oftentimes on the Veena, I'm able to play out tunes that are familiar for the seniors. I played a lot of classics for them, which they really seem to enjoy. And it's been fulfilling because a lot of them have never seen the instrument before, so they'll come up to me after and ask me to explain how it works. It's really exciting for me to be able to share my culture and also connect with their culture," senior Hasini Namala said.

Humans of Harker: Culture and chords

by Lindsey Tuckey, TALON Conservatory Editor May 29, 2025

Sitting cross-legged in the dark, one side of the veena balanced carefully on her knee, Hasini Namala ('25) hovers her hands over the fret board and strings. The crowd hushes, stage lights rise, backing...

Humans of Harker: A flash of color

Humans of Harker: A flash of color

by Shiv Deokar, TALON Student Life Editor May 29, 2025

The sounds of hangers shifting around a rack follow Hannah Streeper ('25) around the thrift store. Her cart fills up with a varied selection of fabrics, colors and proportions. Hannah's style, while...

"What’s more important to me is knowing that if someone had a bad day, I helped make it better: that I put up a little bit more happiness and a little less seriousness sometimes into the Harker community," senior Sara Glusman said.

Humans of Harker: Connection with community

by Aishani Singh, Aquila Managing Editor May 29, 2025

Prototype. Pitch. Pivot. These are the steps running through Sara Glusman’s ('25) mind as she prepares for yet another business sprint — another chance to refine and perfect the vision she and...

“After you hit a bad shot or you have a bad hole, you still have four hours left in front of you. It’s your choice to let it bring you down or you can recover and bounce back from your mistakes. The strong mental aspect of the game has helped me recover from bad grades to friendships in everyday life." senior Allison Yang said.

Humans of Harker: Swinging to stability

by Caden Ruan, STEM Editor May 29, 2025

In second grade, Allison Yang ('25) and her friends signed up for a free golf clinic, not out of ambition, but as a joke. While her friends quickly moved on to different activities, Allison truly found...

Humans of Harker: Process over product

Humans of Harker: Process over product

by Emma Milner, Aquila Editor-in-Chief May 29, 2025

In one moment, Keren Eisenberg ('25) sits at the potter’s wheel alone, carefully attuned to the work-in-progress in front of her. In the next, she leads her team with maturity and care in the chaotic...

Humans of Harker: Turn to talent

Humans of Harker: Turn to talent

by Shiv Deokar, TALON Co-Student Life Editor May 28, 2025

The audience in the ballet studio hushes as Caitlyn Wong ('25) steps onto the stage. As the music starts, it seems to take over her. She punctuates every note with emotion, twirling and treading across...

“All my hobbies are about communication, which is something that rose very early in my childhood. When I'm shadowing a physician, it’s about, ‘She mentioned this drug, let me go home and research that.’ But at the same time, it's, ‘How is she making the patient feel more comfortable?’ When I'm outdoors in my Boy Scouts troop, it's about how can I bring all of that together,’” senior Shiven Balaji said.

Humans of Harker: Service, scouts and support

by Victoria Li, Humans of Harker Managing Editor May 28, 2025

The campfire flames crackle, sending sparks swirling in the night and illuminating Boy Scouts group members in its warm glow. Shiven Balaji ('25) sits in a circle with his Boy Scouts of America troop,...

Humans of Harker: Aficionado of the arts

Humans of Harker: Aficionado of the arts

by Emma Milner, Aquila Editor-in-Chief May 28, 2025

A spotlight illuminates Shruti Srinivasan ('25) — now a senior, then a fifth grader — as she dons a crimson velvet cloak and takes center stage. The melody plays, and Shruti, portraying King Arthur,...

“Small improvements culminate in bigger goals. Tiny steps like increasing the efficiency of an algorithm, adding new features or beating personal records little by little, always lead to something better," senior Daniel Gergov said.

Humans of Harker: Small steps to sizeable success

by Victor Gong, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief May 28, 2025

Is it an A or D day? Where can I sign up for clubs? How many spirit points does my class have? What’s for lunch? With schedules, events, and announcements constantly changing, staying organized can...

Load More Stories