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

Humans of Harker: Calculating for impact

Humans of Harker: Calculating for impact

by Katie Tcheng, TALON Co-Sports Editor April 22, 2024

The clock ticks down. The scoreboard is tied. Kyle Leung (12) dribbles the ball towards the hoop, strategizing how to evade the defenders. He tosses, and with a clean swish, he scores. The scoreboard...

Humans of Harker: Experience in exploration

Humans of Harker: Experience in exploration

by Mia Tang, Co-Assistant Opinions Editor April 22, 2024

As the cheer team stands in a circle outside the weight room, Katherine Fields (12) focuses on warming up for the team’s strength and conditioning session. She leans forward, holding one leg up behind...

“In a way, I just dont really care about what Ive heard about other people. A lot of people have different opinions and opinions will clash, so I feel like its best to form my own opinion from my own interactions. As cliche as it sounds, treat others how you want to be treated, Katelyn Hsu (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Singing with sincerity

by Lily Shi, Co-News Editor April 22, 2024

Katelyn Hsu (12) knows her routine. She gets nervous jitters before she goes on stage, but she tells herself that whatever happens, happens. As she has done countless times before, she will walk calmly...

When I was trapped in my room, I was looking for any way out. I used the internet as an outlet. Online, I met people from across the world whose cultures I didnt understand but I wanted to. That feeling was unfamiliar since I didnt want to do anything back then. Once I breached that whole slump, I wanted to keep learning more, Natalie Chen (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Crocheting a course

by Katie Reed, TALON Business, PDA & Index Manager April 18, 2024

Absent-mindedly fiddling with a soft ball of yarn, Natalie Chen (12) muses over what to crochet next. It’s been rather chilly lately, so maybe a beanie would be good for braving the cold? Or perhaps...

Humans of Harker: Raising the bars

Humans of Harker: Raising the bars

by Edward Huang, Winged Post Co-Managing Editor April 18, 2024

Zihua Wang (12) stands before his marimba, a landscape of polished wooden bars awaiting his touch. He holds the mallets with a practiced ease, their yarn-wrapped ends poised just inches above the instrument....

Humans of Harker: Computing life’s next move

Humans of Harker: Computing life’s next move

by Ashley Mo, Co-Assistant STEM Editor April 9, 2024

Bladed weapons. Skillful dueling. Swift movements. All these are important aspects of fencing, but Alec Zhang (12) specializes in the calculated side of the sport. Every move, lunge and advance is...

“Keep looking forward, never stop being optimistic. Theres not enough time in the world to experience everything, and why waste time by being pessimistic? I always try to find the good parts in everything. Even if I find myself at a standstill, like if I dont know what to do in the future, just do something. It doesnt matter if it turns out with a good outcome or a bad outcome. I just always want to be out, always moving, always trying new things,” Cynthia Wang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: From small moments to big causes

by Michelle Wei, Humans of Harker Co-Managing Editor April 8, 2024

You might find her doubled up with laughter in the orchard with her friends. Or admiring a sunset as soccer practice comes to a close. Or tirelessly working to put together the next school meeting. From...

“The highlight of my day is always small moments, whether its a good conversation with someone, learning a lot from an interview, or one small move forward in a research project. Those are the things that bring me the most joy,” Ella Yee (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Blossoming with compassion

by Alena Suleiman, Co-Editor-in-Chief April 8, 2024

While most high schoolers yearn for the comfort of home on a Friday afternoon, Ella Yee (12) can be found in the center of a busy newsroom pitch meeting, undeterred by the imminent weekend. Flitting from...

“A large portion of my interest in math and why its so fun for me is because at some point, I learned how to apply it to different areas. I found out about this concept called mathematical biology, and I was so fascinated by it. I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is the moment, this is destiny.’ I could model biological systems with math,” Ananya Sriram (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Destiny of design

by Alena Suleiman, Aquila Co-Editor-in-Chief March 25, 2024

As the sun dips below the horizon, a breathtaking scene unfolds. Hues of crimson and gold settle into the tranquil mystery of night. For Ananya Sriram (12), this mesmerizing sunset represents the delicate...

“I can look over at other people for silent encouragement and you can smile. If I was by myself on stage, I wouldnt have that. I would just be me in the spotlight. Its easier knowing that there are that many people in the audience when you have everyone else whos going through it with you,” Saloni Shah (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Shining in solidarity

by Hima Thota, Co-Features Editor March 13, 2024

Spotlights shine down onto the stage as an announcer presents the winning dance team in the garba dance contest, an event dedicated to celebrating Gujarati folk dance. Saloni Shah (12) and her teammates...

“When you’re a perfectionist, you just want to delete everything and start over constantly. Even though it’s a bad thing, doing that helps me parse out my thoughts more and helps me understand what I don’t want to include in my writing, and what I like about my writing, which helps me narrow down my ideas into a final draft that I am happy with, Anika Maji (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Writing the right

by Claire Bauschlicher, Reporter March 8, 2024

Enveloped by dozens of books that line the shelves around her, Anika Maji (12) pours the stream of words in her mind onto the screen. With her hands dancing across the keyboard, she uses imagination...

“When I get into an activity, I try to gain experience and use that experience to help others. I really enjoy helping people and providing guidance to them. I want people to remember me as someone who’s willing to use my knowledge for the better and make an impact on others’ experiences,” Justin Chen (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Ace-ing analytics

by Aryana Bharali, Humans of Harker Profiler March 8, 2024

In a world dominated by specialists, Justin Chen (12) stands as a remarkable outlier. Not only does Justin excel in the corporate realm, but also on the tennis court, where the demands of strategy and...

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