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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

“[Investing] allows me to think a lot more through my decisions, and it's given me a lot of restraint in decision making. [In investing,] you can't be too emotional about your decisions: you have to look through things very analytically. That transfers to my everyday life, where I try to think things through very thoroughly,” Ethan Huang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Investing towards more

by Emma Gao, Reporter January 7, 2022

For many high school students, the daunting and complex finance world of stocks and investments seems light years away, an issue to tackle as adults. But Ethan Huang (12) has immersed himself in this world...

“In football, every single play you've got to run full speed, you’re hitting guys, you’re making a play on the ball, all sorts of stuff is going on. It’s pretty crazy. It’s pretty fun," Adheet Ganesh (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Tackling the game with tenacity

by Julie Shi, Reporter January 6, 2022

The crowd in the bleachers holds in a collective breath of excitement and anticipation as Adheet Ganesh (12), co-captain of the varsity football team, races towards the end zone, football soaring through...

"You have to be able to take those [equations] and develop your own mindset and your own perspective, and be able to take those in ways that other people might not expect, because that's what makes you unique. That's what creativity is," Rishab Parthasarathy (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Curiosity, creation and community

by Sabrina Zhu, STEM Editor January 5, 2022

harkeraquila · Aquila Audible of "Humans of Harker: Curiosity, creation and community" Dozens of smooth, cream-colored tiles spill onto the bare floor, and a pair of young hands frantically...

“[Gardening] gives me a little bit of control over something. Sometimes I feel like I can do all this studying, but I still can’t control the grade or know the questions. But I can take this weed out. I will beat this crabgrass, and then I can listen to music or relax," Ann Ryan (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Purposeful planting

by Irene Yuan, Co-Managing Editor January 4, 2022

With a small, lightweight backpack slung over her shoulders, Ann Ryan (12) strides across the empty parking lot of her elementary school, heading purposefully for the metal gate of the school’s garden....

“[Golf] has taught me how to overcome challenges and how to perform under pressure. When you’ve played for an hour or an hour and a half, and you get out of the moment, you’re just like, 'Huh?' because it feels like it goes by in just a moment,” Sophie Zhang-Murphy (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Putt-ing in the effort

by Kinnera Mulam, Reporter December 16, 2021

Sophie Zhang-Murphy (12) remembers the numerous times she and her family drove to a driving range to play golf when she was 6 years old. At the time, she aimed to simply hit the ball with her golf club,...

“Being able to see both sides of an argument for debate really helped to expand my worldview. Being able to analyze, even if I don’t agree with one side, how I would think about it from [that] perspective gave me more nuanced thinking. This is helpful even in interpersonal situations: being able to recognize what other people are thinking and see things from other people’s perspectives," Arnav Jain (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Power in perspective

by Ella Yee, Reporter December 15, 2021

Arnav Jain (12) laughs as he recalls the joy he felt after realizing he had won a round at an Arizona State University debate tournament last year. Though winning any round would already come as good news,...

“‘You['ve got to] step into the daylight and let it go’ is a line that I really like because I didn't realize how much I’ve been holding in me until hearing it. When I was young, I remember knowing [Taylor Swift] was the kind of person I wanted to be in the future. How she can bring smiles to everyone — in some way, I want to be able to do that as a dentist," Trinity Chan (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Leaving a blank space

by Trisha Iyer, Reporter December 15, 2021

Whenever she has a free seventh period, Trinity Chan (12) heads over to a Spanish-tiled building surrounded by green trees in Cupertino: the dentist’s office. Don’t worry about her teeth, though —...

“[My motto is] shoot for the moon, and even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. There's unexpected benefits in everything that you do. Whether it's skating or science research or life in general, [when] I'm not so successful, I would like to remember that there's always still hope and if I keep trying, I'll be able to get to a better place," Alice Feng (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Spinning with positivity

by Olivia Xu, Reporter December 14, 2021

In a video of her routine for the U.S. Figure Skating Central Pacific Regional Championship in October of 2018, Alice Feng (12), dressed in a sky blue costume adorned with silver embroidery, glides backward...

"[My passion for music] was playing with others and being a part of a group, simply making music together. Those things are the main reasons why I enjoy playing in orchestra, mainly because I really like playing the music I listen to and then trying to recreate it,” Austin Wang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Beats and bats

by Carter Chadwick, TALON Co-Photo Editor December 14, 2021

Recalling one of his favorite memories in baseball, Austin Wang (12) describes his experience during Central Coast Sections (CCS) Championships last year, where the varsity baseball team made a comeback...

“The initial period of when I’m standing and waiting for the music to begin [is when] I’m incredibly nervous. But during the song, it's liberating in a sense. I become a different person. I feel like a lot more of my personality shines through when I'm on stage that a lot of people may not see," Gabriella Gary (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Positively performing

by Alena Suleiman, Reporter December 13, 2021

With her finger gliding across the shelf, Gabriella Gary (12) pauses as she reaches for a turquoise-colored book with bright pink lettering dancing across the cover. Settling herself into a comfortable...

“Having to always adapt to a new environment quickly and frequently allowed me to carry myself in a way that I know who I am, and I will always be the same person no matter what environment I am in. That also made me want to be with people, wherever I was. I wanted to have friends and know people, know teachers, talk with others about experiences or just have fun," Clarice Wang (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Habit of hugs

by Lucy Ge, Aquila Co-Managing Editor December 13, 2021

According to Merriam Webster, an idealist is “one guided by ideals, especially one that places ideals before practical considerations.” According to Clarice Wang (12) during the first Language and...

“What I do is worth it because of my injury. It means a lot to me personally that even being injured, I can still help other people and in the process, learn more about myself and what I like to do,” Leyla Artun (12) said.

Humans of Harker: Same court, different position

by Anika Mantripragada, Reporter December 8, 2021

A wide smile appears on Leyla Artun’s (12) face as she twists around her fingers the vibrant light blue beads and shining gold chains of her handmade necklaces and bracelets influenced by her Turkish...

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