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

“The fact that there’s no right or wrong answer — it’s just your perspective — is really beautiful, and it’s also very reminiscent of the real world. At one point there’s no right or wrong answer, there’s just which path you want to go on, Alice Tao (12) said.

Humans of Harker: In Wonderland

by Margaret Cartee, Aquila Co-Managing Editor February 1, 2024

Many people feel most comfortable dancing when no one is watching, but very few feel comfortable dancing freely in the bustling streets of a foreign city. But at Edinburgh Festival Fringe over the summer...

Humans of Harker: Choreography of minds

Humans of Harker: Choreography of minds

by Claire Yu, Co-Assistant Sports Editor January 30, 2024

Decked out in a glittering top and a multicolored skirt, Selina Chen (12) spins onto stage with the rest of the members in Harker Dance Company, starting their routine with a dazzling triple pirouettes....

Humans of Harker: Rekindling a ball of flame

Humans of Harker: Rekindling a ball of flame

by Emma Li, Co-Assistant A&E Editor January 30, 2024

Shouts ring through the air, interspersed by intermittent thuds of ball against ground and the squeaks of sneakers against the gymnasium floor. An unclaimed ball flies through the air. In an orange...

Humans of Harker: Network of love

Humans of Harker: Network of love

by Ella Yee, Aquila Co-Editor-in-Chief January 30, 2024

PVC pipes. Old keyboards. Chicken wire. These often forgotten items inspire senior Alena Suleiman's (12) art. From bending wooden skewers into rings connected by iridescent threads, to repurposing...

“The biggest thing for me is perseverance. The more I do these activities, the better I get. And when you do well, it feels good, but also sticking with it and not giving up is a very important quality. I like to finish; I dont like to leave things half undone,” Jack Yang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Leading with laughter

by Emma Milner, Co-Sports Editor January 30, 2024

A freshman playing on the varsity boys soccer team, a sophomore making his first Central Coast Section Championship and a junior leading the team as captain, Jack Yang (12) transitioned into roles with...

Humans of Harker: Behind the press pass

Humans of Harker: Behind the press pass

by Isabella Lo, Co-Opinions Editor January 26, 2024

As a friend lines up their camera to snap a photo of a memory, Margaret Cartee (12), slightly camera shy, ducks down and turns away from the lens. But once she puts on her press pass and moves behind...

“I discovered that physics is a lot more conceptual. Its not so much about the equations but more so, ‘Can you understand whats going on in the problem?’ For the longest time, something I struggled with was just trying to plug in equations and not really getting anywhere, but a teacher of mine made me realize that its more about seeing the solution than just plugging in numbers,” Aniketh Tummala (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Deriving the lightbulb moment

by Mihir Kotbagi, Co-Assistant STEM Editor January 26, 2024

It’s 6:30 p.m. The upper school campus is almost completely empty, but a few students remain in the library as they work through the night, their faces illuminated only by the soft glow of their laptop...

Humans of Harker: Exploration of expression

Humans of Harker: Exploration of expression

by Lily Shi, Co-Assistant STEM Editor January 24, 2024

A man sits alone on an airplane, his face just visible from across the aisle; a warm light illuminates his features while those around him are shrouded in darkness. Precise brushstrokes depict every...

“Water polo helped me shape who I am today because at first it helped me open up socially. Im a little bit more introverted, so it helped me make friends really easily. Also, water polo helped me with several things outside of that as well. It helped me become a better listener, helped me stay in shape, helped me set and achieve goals,” Lachlan Rossi (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Pooling friendships

by Alvira Agarwal, TALON Reporter January 24, 2024

Shouting echoes through the otherwise silent Harker Aquatic Center, water splashing onto the ground from the pool. The intense game livens the atmosphere, and members of the audience yell support for...

“You have to be patient. When youre restraining an animal for it to be tube-fed, you have to trust that the people around you will keep you safe from the other animals in the pen. If you flinch, it could really hurt the animal or you could get hurt yourself, so you just have to trust,” Neel Handa (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Testing the waters

by Claire Zhao, Co-STEM Editor January 22, 2024

On a peaceful afternoon in Sausalito, Calif., pristine, emerald waters stretch for miles in every direction, and jagged rocks dotted with barnacles line the sky’s fog-blanketed edges. But volunteering...

“I always try to put others in front of me and make sure that I can be there for as many people in my life as possible. Even if Im going through something I make sure to give people my undivided attention if they need it. When I volunteered at the Marine Center in Santa Cruz, I encountered so many people with so many different opinions. Just meeting new people with unique personalities taught me to have an open mind in any situation,” Medini Halepete (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Fostering connection

by Disha Gupta, Co-Assistant Opinions Editor January 21, 2024

Towering redwood trees and biting winds characterize the road to Santa Cruz: now Medini Halepete’s (12) weekly commute. Whether she is visiting biochemistry labs on the UC Santa Cruz campus or volunteering...

“Even though a car as a whole can seem super complex, when you break one down into its individual parts, it becomes a lot simpler. Taking stuff apart and seeing how it all works together really helps me learn how things work, not just cars. I need to see something in action and work with it before I completely understand how to solve a problem,” Ashwin Kuppahally (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Racing to rescue

by Jonathan Szeto, Co-Assistant News Editor January 15, 2024

With the intense sun shining down and his hands stained with oil and grease, Ashwin Kuppahally (12) looks down at the intricate maze of pipes, bolts, gears and tubes that lay before him. For the past day,...

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