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

“To me, dance is an art form. Its been an important outlet for me to express my emotions or how Im feeling using my body. Its unique because youre using yourself as a medium to express what youre feeling, and I think thats something thats super special and really organic,” Eileen Ma (12) said.

Humans of Harker: The art of expression

by Eva Cheng, Reporter March 2, 2023

“Woah!” someone shouts from the seats, as the blinding lights dim and the final notes of Whitney Houston’s classic ballad “I Will Always Love You” ring throughout the theater. On stage, a radiant...

“My favorite word is strength. Throughout the past four years, playing football has really developed my strength both mentally and physically. Mental strength is something that is essential for everyone. Especially if you are stressed out, during college applications or any other time you got a big test or even just other personal issues, mental strength is the one thing that you need to keep going,” Dylan Parikh (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Strength in care

by Gabe Sachse, Asst. Sports Editor March 2, 2023

The crunch of pads on a chilly Friday night rings out through Davis Field as two opposing defenders attempt to tackle Dylan Parikh (12), whose legs churn as he fights for the extra yardage needed to give...

“Be the best you. I always think about that every now and then. Thats what inspires me to go back — to another day of track, another day of the gym or another art class,” Pranav Mullappalli (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Bold dashes

by Victor Gong, Asst. STEM Editor March 2, 2023

Warm sunlight beats down on the faded red track as Pranav Mullappalli (12) places his foot on the starting block, crouching down into a ready position. The stands go silent, and parents and teammates alike...

“I want to be remembered for always being there to help people. With or without art, Ive been the kind of person that people want to ask for help from or talk to, whether it’s about school or life in general. I just want to be there for people,” Ally Lee (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Drawing their own path

by Kinnera Mulam, Co-STEM Editor March 1, 2023

For as long as they can remember, Ally Lee (12) has used art to express different aspects of their life. From creating intricate digital pieces to tutoring young girls in art to working with a college...

“As Ive grown up, Ive also started to appreciate the vast communicative ability that language possesses. When you learn a language, that opens up so many doors to new conversations you can have or new perspectives you can learn. Language connects the world,” Isha Moorjani (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Connecting the world through language

by Sarah Mohammed, Winged Post Co-Editor-in-Chief March 1, 2023

Hindi. Spanish. Sindhi. Mandarin. These are the languages that filled Isha Moorjani’s (12) life, shaping the way she views the world. She remembers hearing snippets of Hindi and Sindhi in her home and...

“I care about being conscious about the way that we live so we dont damage each other in the process. Thats the thing that makes animal rights important — so that we can make more informed choices about the way that we act,” Leisha Devisetti (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Compassion in action

by Mihir Kotbagi, Reporter March 1, 2023

When Leisha Devisetti’s (12) friends talk about her, there is one word that they always mention: compassion. From her acquaintances to her teachers, those around her are quick to highlight her warmth,...

“Theres always a little bit of wonder. Every single moment on stage, no matter how many times youve done it, you always have little butterflies right before you go on stage. Then youre on stage and it takes a second to adjust to the lights, and you see everyone in the audience, but its something new every time and thats what I love about it,” Samvita Gautham (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Following the beat

by Mia Tang, Reporter March 1, 2023

She takes a breath, claims a step forward and enters a new world as Samvita Gautham (12) prepares to dazzle the audience. With a click and a flash, the hazy darkness slowly lifts from the stage, and light...

“Soccer shapes my personality, not holding back any effort you have. Through club, Ive learned about having self-confidence. Playing amongst people who are UCLA commits — it could be intimidating, but you just need to play to your own strengths. [I’ve also learned how to be] patient and encouraging with those who have never played soccer before,” Lexi Wong (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Team-builder, playmaker

by Felix Chen, Asst. News Editor February 27, 2023

“Focused,” “driven” and “tenacious” are just a few ways teammates describe Lexi Wong (12) on the soccer field. Yet, behind the fierce competitive spirit she displays in game is an understanding...

“I will spend many hours just writing one line of a poem, and that line might not even go anywhere; it might not even become a poem. I learned to not treat time as wasted, but to treat it as care and energy that Im sharing with the page. This translated into my life with not feeling guilty about spending extra time on something: these are moments where I was present fully, and I was immersed in my experience enough for it to last and extend beyond what I thought it would be. Im learning to see that as a beautiful thing,” Sarah Mohammed (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Leading with grace

by Isha Moorjani, Co-Editor-in-Chief February 27, 2023

As words come to you, you start to fill up a journal page, planting the seed of a poem. The words weave themselves together, and you spend hours, days, weeks and even months sitting with the poem and nurturing...

“I want to be remembered as someone who had a positive impact on the community, and I want to make people feel as welcome as possible. In orchestra, I want others to feel comfortable and know they can be themselves. I want the underclassmen to know that its great to be yourself,” Sophia Bronder-Chang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Chords of a community

by Tiffany Zhu, Reporter February 26, 2023

Bright stage lights illuminate the Patil Theater during the upper school orchestra’s holiday concert and the first cello string reverberates, filling the room with a melodious tune. Sophia Bronder-Chang...

“[My motto is] to stand out. A lot of times when I was younger, I really loved to blend in in the background because I didnt want attention on me, but when you stand out, people can really see who you are,” Makayla Aguilar-Zuniga (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Empowerment through expression

by Vivek Moorjani, Reporter February 26, 2023

Silence sits among audience members in the Patil theater as they wait in anticipation for the next routine of the upper school dance show. Suddenly, the curtains open and the upbeat tune of “Telephone”...

“I want to be remembered as someone who, every time they were given a job to do or a role to fulfill, always did more than just that role. In a lot of the things that I do, Im very passionate about them, and so Im always expanding on the duties I already have. Im always trying to do more than whats strictly given to me because I feel like it just makes life more interesting,” Aastha Mangla (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Directing change

by Desiree Luo, Co-Features Editor February 26, 2023

The Athletic Center buzzes with the energetic ambiance typical of any school meeting. Muted conversations descend down the bleachers as students wait for the next speaker to approach the stage. Near the...

Load More Stories