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

An illustration of the National Rifle Association of America logo. What questions should we be asking about the NRA and gun violence?

NRA and America: What questions should we be asking?

by Hima Thota, Assistant Sports Editor March 29, 2023

Content warning: This article mentions gun violence.  “Our Second Amendment is freedom’s most valuable, most cherished, most irreplaceable idea. History proves it. When you ignore the right of...

An illustration depicting the damage the two party system does to democracy. More than a quarter of Americans view both parties negatively, bringing into question whether constituent views are truly being heard on the political stage.

Failure of the two party system

by Isabella Lo, Assistant Opinions Editor March 23, 2023

In the 2020 election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, my dad found that he could not support either candidate: both Trump and Biden did not align with his political views. My dad asked, “What do you...

An illustration demonstrating the cultural taboo on swearing. In today’s culture, so-called ‘swear words’ are simply words relating to the taboo, be it bodily functions, anger, madness or anything else deemed socially uncomfortable.

Tossing out the taboo: profanity’s prohibition preventing progress

by Jessica Wang, Assistant Opinions Editor March 23, 2023

As students slowly file into a classroom, grouping themselves into pairs and threes along a horse-shoe shaped table facing the blackboard, we start talking amongst ourselves, introducing who we are to...

When the main objective for an Advanced Placement (AP) course is completing a final exam, success no longer involves learning or curiosity; instead, success comes in the form of a number between one and five.

Editorial: AP courses undermine students’ learning

by Editorial Board March 8, 2023

When the main objective for an Advanced Placement (AP) course is completing a final exam, success no longer involves learning or curiosity; instead, success comes in the form of a number between one and...

An illustration representing various motifs in some of Edgar Allan Poes most famous poems. Many regard Poe as the greatest poet to ever live.

Friday Five: Poe(ms)

by Jonathan Xue, Humans of Harker Profiler March 8, 2023

Edgar Allan Poe died of consumption. But even a century and a half later, his works continue to gnaw at me; their biting twists and subtle nuance are truly captivating. Each poem he writes is layered with...

Raindrops splatter my windshield as I look out at the quickly darkening sky. Pen and journal in hand, I listen to the loudness of the natural world. I wonder, Who do I want to grow into this coming year?

The futility of New Year’s Resolutions

by Jessica Tang, Photo Editor February 7, 2023

How are the New Year's Resolutions going? Never mind, I’ll spare you from answering. New Year's Resolutions: glorified and rarely-reached goals set at the beginning of every year. From academic...

Although empty space during the day may not seem to help students’ productivity, it actually trains them to allocate their time wisely. In particular, the absence of a mandatory activity during the morning block can shorten the long list of tasks students must complete each day, lessening their burden bit by bit.

Editorial: Leave more open space in schedule

by Editorial Board February 6, 2023

Of the 75% of Harker Journalism Editorial Board members who voted, 92% agreed with the stance of this editorial. What was supposed to be a fun spirit event to celebrate student athletics at the end...

Parasocial relationships can be fulfilling, and involving ourselves with our favorite celebrities and characters is a normal part of our lives. We can admire the people on the screen, aspire to be them and connect with them parasocially.

Halting the spiral of parasocial relationships

by Yifan Li, TALON Reporter February 5, 2023

The bright glaring screen illuminates my drowsy face as I scroll past the umpteenth video and press on a smiling face, ready to launch myself into endless hours of video consumption. Over quarantine, I...

A woman is strong if she cries; a woman is strong if she fights; a woman is strong for the sole reason that she is a woman. There should be no standard for her. Cinderella, just by being herself and committing to her beliefs, automatically makes her an incredible role model to young girls.

More than a damsel in distress

by Claire Bauschlicher, Reporter January 23, 2023

“Cinderella” by Charles Perrault, adapted into the 1950s Disney classic, depicts the story of a young girl. She lives with her stepmother and sisters, attends a ball, falls in love with a prince, escapes...

An illustration of a can of Harkers Condensed Tomato Soup. Harker Aquilas assistant opinions editor Jessica Wang shares a ranking of the best five soups.

Friday Five: A definitive soup ranking

by Jessica Wang, Assistant Opinions Editor January 20, 2023

It's believed that the first bowl of soup was prepared around 20,000 B.C. However, my most poignant memory regarding soup is closer to 2022 A.D. It was a fateful Tuesday. For lunch that day, we were served...

Every year in December, I marvel at the beauty and festiveness of the glittering lights, but that joy is always tainted by a shadow of impending doom — the holiday season is not the only season that happens at this time of year.

It’s the most stressful time of the year

by Margaret Cartee, Opinions Editor December 19, 2022

Sparkling Christmas lights flicker, adorning buildings, trees, anything and everything which can be decorated. Every year in December, I marvel at the beauty and festivity of the glittering lights, but...

I was willing to try ballet as something I hadn’t done before, yet the “absurdity” of a male ballet dancer was also deeply ingrained in my mind. Once I discovered that ballet spoke to me in a different way than other genres, I decided to let my passion guide me.

Jetéing over gender stereotypes as a male ballet dancer

by Anwen Hao, Assistant Multimedia Editor December 1, 2022

A 10-year-old me walked into a ballet studio with my head down, trying to avoid the looks of other ballerinas. But I knew I was going to be noticed; as a boy, my short hair, white shirt and black tights...

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