Day of Understanding enriches empathy and media literacy
The inaugural Day of Understanding invited 60 students for a full day of workshops, speaker events and a catered international buffet on Nov. 8. The Student Diversity Coalition along with a dozen teachers structured activities centered around media literacy and civil discourse. Attendees also listened to Keynote speaker Atia Abawi discuss her experience with journalism and authorship.
“Harker has done a really good job of creating spaces where people feel safe to communicate,” learning specialist Kadar Arbuckle said. “I acknowledge that while students and adults alike still lack a lot of tools to achieve understanding, there are still a lot of things already happening that are facilitating these conversations.”
Abawi opened the day by presenting on her experience covering the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts as a correspondent for CNN, where she emphasized the importance of recognizing all the perspectives when approaching situations of war. News broadcasts sometimes deliberately omitted Abawi’s coverage to conceal violent realities from viewers. She spoke on her mother’s experience as a refugee, and her own work with orphaned children.
Abawi also visited an Advanced Newspaper class the day before Day of Understanding, answering questions about her experiences working as a woman in the male-dominated journalism industry. She shared clips from moments in her reporting career, even showing her running away from Iraqi battlefields.
“Empathy gets lost in the divisions that we see throughout the world and in
RO-SHAM-BO (TOP LEFT) Senior Aaron Chen triumphs over Rei Binkley (12) in rock-paper-scissors snake. After every round, the loser would follow the winner until two lines remained. DROWNED OUT (TOP RIGHT) Keynote speaker Atia Abawi asks the audience to raise their hands if they have felt that their voice was left unheard. FINDING FACTS (BOTTOM) Frosh Anastasia Broumas (middle) discovers the answer to a puzzle during the media literacy session. The puzzle-like activities tested students’ data analysis and critical thinking skills to discern misinformation.
our own country,” Abawi said. “Because we all have empathy in us but sometimes forget to use and fall back on it, it’s so important to remind ourselves to humanize one another, especially at a time when a lot of people dehumanize the other.”
Students then split off into plenary sessions in the multi-purpose room and the
Nichols Auditorium. Librarian Meredith Cranston led an escape room media literacy game where students identified deepfaked digital pictures and followed clues to debunk fraud. Such skills prepare students to recognize misinformation.
“We had to detect AI deepfakes in pictures, and that was really difficult,”
senior Aarush Vailaya said. “AI is getting better, and people can spread blatant misinformation that looks so realistic. We discussed looking at multiple news sources, keeping an open mind, not following information that can be just straight up fake.” Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
kairui sun, lily peng & samuel tong
Origami and Key Club make cards and creatures for children’s hospitals
CREASE AND FOLD Natalie Barth (11) follows along in the steps of folding a paper
Students made origami creations to donate to children’s hospitals.
Origami Club and Key Club worked together to make handmade cards and origami animals that will be donated to children in hospitals through Cardz for Kidz, a nonprofit organization, on Nov. 12. Over 20 students attended the meeting, collectively creating more than 50 cards and origami animals.
“The motivation behind this meeting was to channel the season of gratitude and give back to our community,” Key Club officer Celina Xu (11) said. “Since we are a community service club, we thought it would be nice to do something meaningful for kids.”
Participants folded paper into intricate shapes ranging from classic cranes to flowers. and wrote heartfelt messages in the cards to accompany their origami creations.
“I think it’s meaningful because you can create something very complex from something very simple.”
AMEERA RAMZAN (10)
ORIGAMI CLUB MEMBER
“I find it relaxing when you fold paper and create something beautiful out of it,” Origami Club member Ameera Ramzan (10) said. “I think it’s meaningful because you can create something very complex from something very simple, which is fascinating and hopefully brings joy to children.”
Key Club adviser Kerry Enzensperger enjoyed the meeting, noting how the collaboration allowed students to connect while contributing to a meaningful cause.
“It’s special to donate handmade gifts because it shows the time and effort people put into creating something with their own hands,” Enzensperger said. “It’s also wonderful to see students from different groups come together and work toward a common goal.”
Looking ahead, Key Club plans to continue partnering with other clubs on campus for community service events.
“It’s inspiring to see so many people come together for a cause,” Celina said. “We’re excited to keep finding ways to give back and bring people together.”
Student author shares best-selling books at library
lily
peng & chelsea xie
Amazon best-selling author Keira Chang (11) hosted a book signing for “Marinara and Alfredo: How Do Ouchies Heal?” on Nov. 13, read and hosted a signing for her book series “Marinara and Alfredo” to preschoolers on Nov. 14 and led a writing workshop with sixth graders on Nov. 15 for the Science and Technology Week at Los Altos Library.
A dozen preschoolers and parents attended Keira’s library reading on Nov. 14. She began the storytime by asking the children if they ever wondered about the science of rainbows. Keira answered their questions by leading them through the picture book. Afterwards, she gifted each child custom Marinara and Alfredo bookmarks.
“I
wanted to share that curiosity with kids to encourage them to keep asking questions.”
KEIRA
CHANG (11) STUDENT AUTHOR
After the session, Keira reflected on the experience, highlighting her love for inspiring children’s interest in science by breaking down complicated topics into simple and engaging stories.
“This is a really cool opportunity and I was really honored to have been offered this spot,” Keira said. “Getting to read and share the book with kids is always special for me, and the kids themselves are always super curious and very upbeat.”
With the support of her parents, she developed ideas for a science-themed picture book in her sophomore year and has published two works since. Both have ranked as No. 1 Best Seller Children’s
Books on Amazon. Keira’s motivation stemmed from her interest in the science behind everyday occurrences as a child.
“Growing up, I was always super curious about how things work in the world around me,” Keira said. “I wanted to share that curiosity and those explanations with kids to encourage them to keep asking questions.”
Noticing her inherent curiosity as a child, Keira’s father, David Chang, witnessed her venture into writing for children. He supported her by helping brainstorm ideas.
“I’m really proud of everything that she’s done,” Chang said. “She works incredibly hard. She’s very ambitious and really likes to try things that challenge her. It’s been really exciting as a parent to see her do things even I’ve never imagined myself doing. It’s just awesome to see her breaking out into new territories.”
MARIANA & ALFREDO:
#1 Amazon Best Seller
How Do Ouchies Heal?
How Do Rainbows Work?
American Writing Awards Finalist
How Do Rainbows Work? INFOGRAPHIC BY
Former president of the Los Altos Library Endowment Cindy Hill first discovered Keira through a Fox News interview and thought her engaging stories would add a unique element to their Science and Technology week.
“Her energy and enthusiasm for explaining scientific methods stood out,” Hill said. “She was able to simplify the concepts so that anyone could understand them. Especially at the age group she’s working with, they can start to learn the basics and then grow into the deeper parts of science.”
Harker Physics Invitational draws international participation
by reviewing practice problems. The competition consisted of 25 problems to be solved in 90 minutes.
jonathan szeto
One hundred and sixty two middle and high school students worldwide participated in the 2024 Harker Physics Invitational (HPhI) online hosted by the Physical Sciences Club on Saturday. The event also included a speaker panel.
Participants from 20 states and seven countries, including Canada, Nepal and Malaysia, attempted to solve 25 physics problems in 90 minutes, competing for cash prizes totaling to $800. The top 10
participants also competed in a rapid fire tiebreaker round to break ties among scores from the initial round.
“The problems were interesting and different from what I’ve usually seen in competitive physics, which was nice,” junior attendee Eric Dong said. “I’ll definitely come back since I’m annoyed about my performance this year, so I’d like to do my best next year without mistakes.”
Owen Zhou from BASIS Scottsdale in Arizona received first place and a $250
Amazon gift card, Mahith Gottipati from John Foster Dulles High School in Texas came in second and Kai Lum from BASIS Independent Fremont won third.
“One of our main challenges was accommodating people from different places,” Physical Sciences Club CoPresident Jacqueline Huang (12) said. “For example, some of our competitors didn’t have access to computers. Still, in the past few years, we’ve seen a rapid increase of participants, and the overall skill level of participants has also increased, so we increased the value of the awards to reflect the increasing amount of skill to rank in the top 10.”
Past United States Physics Team members Kartik Ramachandrula and William Zhao and 2023 International Physics Olympiad gold medalists Zian Shi and Feodor Yevtushenko gave advice to attendees about physics competitions and discussed the team’s training camp. The speakers answered questions about realworld applications of physics concepts, advantages of physics competitions in potential career paths and their favorite problems and theorems.
“Having passions like physics and math and setting goals for yourself helps you become more disciplined and focused,” Zhao said. “You don’t need to be superhuman to reach your goals. A big difference between in the classroom and for physics contests is how motivated you are — if you’re actually interested in physics and want to grow that interest, you’ll naturally want to learn more.”
CHELSEA XIE
READING RAINBOWS Keira Chang (11) reads her book “Marinara and Alfredo: How Do Rainbows Work?” Los Altos Library hosted workshops for Science and Technology Week.
risa chokhawala
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Daniel Miao (11) prepares for HPhI
crane.
Shakespeare takes the stage at competition
Twenty students competed in the schoolwide Shakespeare Monologue Contest in Nichols Auditorium during lunch on Nov. 14 for the opportunity to advance to the national stage of the EnglishSpeaking Union Shakespeare Competition.
Each participant memorized a monologue from Shakespeare’s plays and performed a dramatic interpretation of the scene. English teachers Beth Wahl, Susanne Salhab and Nikolai Slivka and theater teacher Brandi Griffith judged the contest.
On Friday, they announced the first place winner as sophomore Lana Tariq, who performed Queen Margaret from “Henry VI: Part 3.” Sophomore Maddie Avila took second place as Cassius from “Julius Caesar,” and sophomores Dhanya Ramanan and Sophia Zhu tied for third place.
“I was incredibly nervous because I have a little bit of stage fright, but as soon as I got up there, I got into it.”
MADDIE AVILA
PERFORMER
Lana will have the opportunity to proceed to the regional Shakespeare contest in San Francisco, where she will perform her monologue alongside other students from across Northern California.
“I liked the monologue options — there were hundreds of them and they really varied,” Lana said. “Some were comical or emotional. Mine was more vicious.”
After the event announcement, students were given three weeks
to prepare their monologues. They memorized their lines while deciding on gestures and inflection to match the meaning of their scenes. Some also attended a feedback session with Dr. Wahl and Griffith on Nov. 8 to refine their performances.
“I got over my fear of being on stage,” Maddie said. “I was incredibly nervous because I have a little bit of stage fright, but as soon as I got up there, I got into it.”
Sponsored by the International English-Speaking Union, the competition hosts thousands of high schoolers across the nation each
year. It aims to engage students with Shakespeare’s work by challenging them to think deeply about the texts. It also promotes confidence, communication and knowledge of the language arts and drama.
Contestant Vivaan Sahay (9) felt that learning his monologue brought him greater insights into his chosen play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“I was actually in Harker’s production of the play too,” Vivaan said. “Doing the monologue and the fall play helped me understand Shakespeare a lot more.”
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Students discuss real issues at “Real Talk”
DEI Director Patricia Burrows hosted a “Real Talk with Students and for Students” discussion, inviting students to contemplate challenges facing their communities in the Nichols Auditorium on Nov. 12.
Attendees discussed controversial topics like personal values and political
leanings. The event’s openness allowed each participant to express their sincere opinions and perspectives on those issues without judgment.
“I want to create a climate and culture for students to talk about things that is planned and structured,” Burrows said. “We don’t allow adequate time to just process life. To help prepare our students for experiences beyond high
College workshop adjusts mindsets
lily peng
Nonprofit organization Challenge Success hosted a workshop titled “A Healthier Approach to College Admissions” for sophomores and juniors in the Patil Theater on Nov. 13.
Associated with the Stanford Graduate School of Education, Challenge Success aims to foster a community of healthy children. Challenge Success senior design partner Margaret Dunlap presented her research about the pressure society puts on college acceptances and the drastic mental toll on students.
Dunlap surveyed high school students on questions like “What is your definition of success?” She found that when they were in the presence of an adult, students mostly responded that success meant happiness for them, but when they were alone, they admitted good grades and money controlled their definition of success.
“Now, I want to see how I interact with people around me and whether I am fulfilled in the long term.”
ROBINSON XIANG (11) WORKSHOP ATTENDEE
This belief stems from the idea that college is the first step on a clear path to success. However, Dunlap highlighted a graph of an individual’s career, full of unexpected twists and turns.
Attendee Robinson Xiang (11) said listening to the presentation changed his mentality from feeling obligated to fit in with his surrounding environment to prioritizing personal investments in his passions and relationships.
“Now, I want to see how I interact with people around me and whether I am fulfilled in the long term,” Robinson said. “If you really care about the relationships with people you have and who you’re spending time with, you will make sure you have that special time designated.”
school, we need to model and create those opportunities for students to create connections.”
The discussion began with each student spending two minutes to tell the group about any topic that they felt strongly about, like academic stressors or varying political beliefs. Students remained silent if extra time remained to demonstrate respect.
“ It’s
easier to have more in-depth conversations when it’s an event where I can talk about what I was scared to bring up.”
CLAIRE PERNG (12) “REAL TALK” ATTENDEE
“It’s easier to have more in-depth conversations when it’s an event where I can talk about what I was scared to bring up,” senior Claire Perng said. “It allows me to be more open in sharing my thoughts when I know we all have to share our thoughts. I’m taking the risk to open up.”
Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
During the presentation, students and parents filled out a paper to rank certain aspects of colleges and evaluate
“What’s interesting to me is that what I think is important to my child is actually quite different from what my child thinks,” Catherine Li, parent of sophomore Chelsea Xie, said. “[Prestige] has nothing to do with how well your kid is going to learn in that college.”
Dunlap concluded the session by asking the audience to promise to make a positive commitment to themselves Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
SPEAKING SHAKESPEARE Sophomore Lana Tariq and Frosh Vivaan Sahay perform dramatic interpretations of famous passages from Shakespeare’s works. Twenty students participated and were able to choose from over 200 monologues.
eva cheng, suhani gupta & claire tian
(10)
LISTEN AND LEARN Attendee Cindy Yu (12) speaks during the fishbowl discussion. The conversation was centered around several open-ended prompts.
samuel tong
CHELSEA XIE
NEW MINDSET Margaret Dunlap speaks about maintaining a healthy college mindset. She led activities to dissolve unhealthy preconceptions.
samuel tong
North Korea strengthens alliances with Russia
U.S., South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence estimated that North Korea reinforced Russia with 12,000 troops to prepare for a Ukrainian attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a defense treaty ratification on Nov. 11, which requires both sides to provide military support in case of armed conflict. The agreement also includes Russian cooperation in establishing a trade economy.
China hosts the new Indonesian president
Inaugurated Oct. 20, Indonesian President and ex-general Prabowo Subianto met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss trade policy and show gratitude. China funded many of Indonesia’s public architecture projects like its high-speed railways and solar energy plants in a previous several billion dollar deal. China serves as the first stop of Subianto’s country tour for maintaining neutral relations and bolstering Indonesian foreign policy.
Dutch-Israeli soccer match incites violence
Attacks on fans of Israeli soccer club Maccabi Tel Aviv from fans of Dutch soccer team Ajax at an Amsterdam soccer game resulted in more than 50 detained, 340 removed from the protest and five hospitalized on Nov. 8. Heightened tensions given the war in Gaza sparked the conflict. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Helensa condemned the attacks as antisemitic, referencing the Netherland’s history of providing refuge for Jews during World War II and the Holocaust.
Explosion outside Brazil’s supreme court kills one
Police reported at least one explosion outside the supreme court in Brasilia, the country’s capital on Nov. 13. The incident killed one man and forced the justices and staff to evacuate the building. Witness testimony reported another blast outside Brazil’s Congress building, but there was no reported damage. Presidential safety bureau members carried out an investigation and announced that farright extremists carried out the attack, targeting Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Bangladeshi political rally stopped
Political opponents and students thwarted former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s rally. The expolitician from the Awami League party attempted to hold a rally at the capital, Dhaka, to honor the deaths of activists who campaigned against military dictator H.M. Ershad in 1987. Student protesters, who also led a summer revolt against Hasina’s appointment of government employees, flooded the protest area and attacked rallyists.
Global community reacts to Trump victory
RESOUNDING RESULTS Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election echoed around the world as foreign communities assessed its impact on their lives. As a global powerhouse, U.S. hold significant influence and weight in international affairs.
jeremy peng & chelsea xie
After Donald Trump won the presidency on Nov. 5, international communities have expressed a variety of reactions regarding how his return will influence society all around the globe. We interviewed three overseas residents to investigate the election’s impact abroad.
Sasha Watson, an American student living in Germany, noted that despite their distance, Germans continue to worry about Trump’s potential to disrupt their daily lives with policies that drastically shift existing measures.
“There’s a feeling that although Trump won’t be the leader of their country, his choices have a profound impact on their lives, especially in regards to climate change, pulling out of NATO and funding the war,” Sasha said. “A lot of smaller countries really feel [the effects] because the U.S. backs them or supports them in a lot of ways.”
Rhianna Fung, a high school student and Singaporean citizen, became interested in Trump’s policies like his stance on the U.S. LGBTQ+ community.
A Singaporean law that criminalized same-gender sexual activity was repealed last year, and she was curious to see whether the U.S, often a trendsetter in
social policy, would support or oppose LGBTQ+ initiatives in the future, influencing global attitudes.
“I expect there to be some unrest, especially with him announcing that he’ll change some laws concerning the LGBTQ+ community,” Rhianna said. “I find it very interesting that Trump decides to change the laws concerning this community since the U.S. is where most of this community is concentrated.”
However, Rhianna noticed that many of her classmates rely primarily on social media to stay informed. These platforms lack thorough fact-checking and can spread unverified information. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Veterans Day: Reflecting on legacies of service
young min & ashley mo
Every year, November 11 marks a day of service and sacrifice, where people from across the United States honor the strength and courage of the country’s veterans. This day, known as Veterans Day, is dedicated to those who put their lives on the line to protect our nation and its values.
Navy veteran and Math department chair Anthony Silk recounts his experience during the Persian Gulf War, where he flew the EA6B Prowler aircraft as an active duty military aviator. He emphasizes the resilience and unity that define those who serve.
“
The camaraderie that you suddenly find when you are together experiencing a challenging situation allows you to bond very closely.”
ANTHONY SILK
NAVY
VETERAN
“You’re flying over what was considered enemy territory when they’re shooting at you,” Silk said. “You would be up there doing midair refueling and going back out, flying over known missile sites
and preparing yourself for what happens if you get shot down. The camaraderie that you suddenly find when you are together experiencing a challenging situation allows you to bond very closely, and that makes you stronger.”
Although soldiers in direct combat first come to mind when thinking of veterans, the day is a tribute to all who serve, including those in support roles and other branches of uniformed service like the Coast Guard. Many people serve behind the scenes as engineers, strategists and medical personnel.
Math teacher Bradley Stoll was part of the Army Reserve and the Navy, where he worked as an electrician aboard a nuclear-powered cruiser.
“There were some exciting times,” Stoll said. “We spent a month or two down off the coast of Panama, and we were cruising around, looking for ships that were transporting drugs. We had to be on high alert and ready just in case something happened. Most of the skills I learned [were] around electricity and how to work on electronics.”
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MILITARY MEMORIES Anthony Silk poses with his flight helmet and photos from his time in the Navy. He flew a EA6B Prowler aircraft during the Persian Gulf War.
MIRABELLEFENG
Navigating politics in the age of algorithms Political Polarization
jessica wang & lily shi
America today is divided. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 63% of Democrats view members of the other party as immoral. That number exceeds 70% for Republicans. More than half of Democrats and six in ten Republicans view the opposing party “very unfavorably.” Another recent survey found that two out of three Americans wouldn’t date someone with different political beliefs.
This heightened divide has grown in parallel with the rise of social media giants like Facebook, X and Instagram — a connection that is far from coincidental. Social media has become a powerful driver of political polarization.
“Political division has definitely become more severe in recent years,” Civil Discourse Club President Jacqueline Huang (12) said. “A big factor causing it is the increasing role of social media as a source of political news as well as increasingly candidate-centered political discussions.”
Social media algorithms are designed to curate each user’s feed based on their past behaviors, like the posts they interact with or videos they watch for longer, and recommend content that aligns with those preferences. Although this allows users to see more of what they enjoy, it creates an “echo chamber” that isolates users’ viewpoints from different perspectives existing
“When you’re scrolling through your feed and you come across a post and you like it or interact with it, then the algorithm will receive a positive reward and learn to give
you more of that type of post,” AI Club officer Anika Rajaram (11) said. “If you keep interacting with a certain type of content, that will create a feedback loop where the algorithm shows you more and more of the same content that you like and less of the stuff you don’t necessarily agree with.”
“Social media has its uses, but it’s poisonous when it comes to political discourse and our social fabric.”
JAMES TATE
HISTORY TEACHER
Algorithms also tend to prioritize content that elicits strong emotional responses to maximize user engagement
sensationalized news stories or memes mocking the opposing party, is often pushed to users.
“We can’t avoid polarizing media,” junior Albert Yao said. “It’s what sells, fundamentally. But we should actually sit through the entire experience, take it in and get a grasp of what we’re feeling and understand why we’re feeling that way and think about the implications of our own biases. We should view everything through an objective lens, and try to keep a tap on our emotions, whether we agree with it or we don’t.”
As technology continues to shape modern life, the pace of daily life accelerates to keep up. Yet, while instant access to information has become the norm, the impact of this shift on our interactions raises questions about the effects on attention in the digital age.
“Interperson communication happens over time, which is something that the social media phenomenon
Unsustainable swag negatively impacts environment
charlize wang & heather wang
DECA tote bags. Robotics fedora hats. Conservatory hoodies. Year after year, clubs and programs distribute swag to members and attendees. While students sometimes sport these items around school, some of these items also pile up in closets, rarely seeing the light of day. The excess merchandise begs the question: how sustainable is swag?
“The school’s goal is to limit the waste that we produce, so we look at the goal of the clothing or swag.”
ERIC KALLBRIER DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Organizations producing merchandise risk leaving members with an excess of shirts, hoodies and other miscellaneous items that go unused.
There is currently no clear policy set in place, and requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with some groups obtaining merch while others, especially clubs, don’t.
“The school’s goal in general is to limit the waste that we produce, so we look at the goal of the clothing or swag — if it is necessary to the fulfillment of the organization’s mission,” Director of Student Organizations Eric Kallbrier said. “That is different from an organization that wants material just to provide a benefit to the members.” often distribute merchandise without considering whether students actually want the items
victor gong
Eyes sharp, hand at the ready. Bang. One swift flick of the paddle sends the bright orange plastic ball flying across the net with a fast-moving top spin. Ping pong, also known as table tennis, is a sport rooted in style, technique and timing, requiring quick reflexes for splitsecond decisions as well as persistence in longer rallies. It’s also a rooted pastime on the Harker campus at the blue and white tables outside Nichols Hall.
Prior to the COVID pandemic, the school originally purchased two ping pong tables, complete with paddles and balls. The school launched this initiative, alongside the purchase of the foosball table, to provide recreational items for students to use in their free time. Since then, the tables have undergone regular repair and replacement and also changed locations several times over the years, journeying across campus while making stops in the Quad, the center of Nichols and even among the lunch tables outside Manzanita Hall.
In the past, groups on campus have also hosted campus-wide ping pong tournaments. In a March Madness style competition, students competed for top spots in single-elimination brackets. Then the final two contestants faced off in the championship match at the tables during school meeting, paired with funny introduction videos to add to the hype.
“they are offering, instead ordering bulk and distributing until they run out. Departments provide swag to members every year, especially with every new production and season, resulting in member’s receiving duplicates if they continue for multiple years. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
By playing [ping pong], I’ve met a lot of new people, and that’s what I like the most about it.”
“The first time we did it was probably back in 2018 or 2019,” Director of Student Organizations Eric Kallbrier said. “Every year, we always have some students on campus who are nationally ranked or really good table tennis players, so it’s fun to see them go to battle against each other on the table.”
Beyond competitions and events, the ping pong tables serve as a casual hangout spot on campus. Students gather around and chat away as they exchange shots and engage in rallies. Ping Pong Club President Siddhartha Biswas (11), who plays at the tables daily, cherishes how the sport deepens bonds.
“The first person I played against destroyed me 11-0, and he’s now one of my closest friends,” Siddhartha said. “By playing, I’ve met a lot of new people, and that’s what I like the most about it.”
Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
GAME ON! Ping pong is a fun activity to participate in on campus. Students play ping pong during breaks or after school.
VICTOR GONG
JESSICAWANG
Students volunteer in community
Disc-overing beauty of nature
Chris Spenner enjoys environment while disc golfing
For physics and research teacher Chris Spenner, it’s not the perfect disc-golf shot that captivates him the most; instead, it’s his natural surroundings that pique his interest. Whether a hole-in-one or not, the world around him remains still, and Spenner prides himself in his commitment to environmental awareness.
Disc golf comes with its own distinct set of characteristics from ball golf: players throw a disc instead of hitting a traditional ball, and they target a metalchain basket instead of a conventional golf hole.
Physics teacher Miriam Allersma, who played competitive Ultimate Frisbee, shares an enthusiasm for disc sports with Spenner. Dr. Allersma praised his dedication not just in his sport but also in other aspects of his life.
“
“If I want to graduate, I’d better finish volunteering sooner than later.”
With a minimum of 30 community service hours required for graduation from the upper school, viewing volunteering as a one-and-done task is common. But for many, it’s much more than simply ticking a box. Nonprofits provide accessible opportunities for valuable community contributions and interaction.
“It’s such a great feeling to go out and volunteer and be part of something other than your own little world,” Community Service Director Kerry Enzensperger said. “I suggest that everybody go out and give it a shot and try something that you love, but also try something that you’re not sure if you would like just because there’s lots of opportunities and experiences if you give yourself the opportunity to try something new.”
“
It’s such a great feeling to go out and feel like you’re part of something other than your own little world.”
KERRY ENZENSPERGER
COMMUNITY SERVICE
DIRECTOR
Before her frosh year, senior Summer Adler started volunteering at 13th Street Cat Rescue, a rescue organization that socializes feral cats in need and puts them into foster homes. She helps potential adopters socialize and match with cats.
“It’s really nice to see [the cats get used to you] because you feel bad for them when they’re so scared,” Summer said. “When they finally get more used to people, it’s great. I feel happy just to get a cat happy.”
Senior Juliana Li also volunteers in her community as a lead dance teacher at Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) to provide a performing arts education to children with developmental disabilities. She started there as a ninth grader because of her own passion in dance, and now, she choreographs dances for the children and helps out with the singing class.
“FCSN showed me how rewarding volunteering can be and how it can bring you so much joy beyond just getting your volunteer hours,” Juliana said. “It’s so important for everyone to be civically engaged with their communities and to interact with diverse groups of people.” Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Disc golf is a way for me to be in a different community — a natural space that feeds my soul.”
CHRIS SPENNER
PHYSICS AND RESEARCH TEACHER
“Mr. Spenner is a really thoughtful and deliberate person,” Dr. Allersma said. “I’m always amazed by how deeply he’s thinking about issues, whether it’s a school policy or something about science or the environment.”
As an environmentalist, Spenner describes disc golf as a “hike but throwing a frisbee while doing it.” He also cherishes hiking on its own as an opportunity to deepen his curiosity for the natural world.
“If I’m playing a really familiar course, then I might not even pay that much attention to some of the scenery, and I might be more focused on one element of my game,” Spenner said. “If I go hiking in a new place, that’s really more exploratory since it’s new for me — hiking is much more meditative.”
mendy mao & ashley mo
An alarm rings. A student forces their eyes open, exhausted from staying up the night before to finish homework. Dragging themselves out of bed, they barely make it to school, slogging through four periods of class. When they get home, they turn to their homework only to find that they don’t remember any material, staying up all night to finish it. The cycle continues.
Alumna Ella Yee (’24) views Spenner as one of her biggest role models. She took every class that Spenner taught throughout her time at the high school.
“If you’ve ever had Mr. Spenner as a teacher, then you know how much he cares about every single one of his students and how he teaches his students to care about their impact in their communities and the world,” Ella said. “He’s changed the way I approach learning and life in general, and I really miss being his student.”
Spenner relishes the thrill of competition in disc golf, but his deeper appreciation lies in the environment around him that he can explore. For him, the game provides an escape from everyday life through a chance to connect with the outdoors.
“I [play disc golf] knowing that it’s kind of a goofy thing,” Spenner said. “Disc golf is a way for me to be in a different community and a different physical space — a natural space that feeds my soul.” Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Rest days help students reduce stress and burnout
5-6 hours of sleep 19% less productive
Due to the rigorous academic and outside activities in high school, students can easily get burnt out. Some Harker students take “rest days” to catch up on sleep and recharge emotionally.
“Mental health days are important because they help reduce burnout,”
junior S Wang said. “I take one or two per semester. You’re able to have time to do things that you always want to do but don’t have the time to do, like sleep.” While mental health breaks can help students, there are limits to how many Harker can accommodate. After five absences, students risk losing credit in a course from missing too many classes.
“Students in this school overbook themselves,” academic counselor Kelly Leahy-McKeown said. “Re-evaluating what their schedule looks like in the first place and making preventative decisions around that is important. If we’re taking a schedule that works, we might not need those rest days as much.”
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DAILY GRIND A student falls asleep while doing their homework. Burnout and sleep deprivation are prevalent at Harker and are the driving forces behind rest days.
emma milner & caden ruan
FLICK OF THE WRIST Physics and research teacher Chris Spenner holds up a Frisbee, preparing to throw it out of his hand towards the net. He has played since he was 16.
isabello lo, claire zhao & emma li
PAW-SITIVE IMPACT Summer Adler (12) volunteers at 13th Street Cat Rescue.
New artist-in-residence maps world through art
Multimedia artist Connie Zheng plants community seeds of hope
From far away, you see a typical map of the notorious Golden State. But, zoom in closer and you’ll witness a story unfold through the carefully-layered strokes of paint. Artist and experimental filmmaker Connie Zheng’s brushstrokes tell stories that no GPS can track. They reveal a topography not bound by freeway lines or county borders, but by the deeper contours of history and memory.
Zheng’s path to becoming an artist was far from straightforward. Growing up as an immigrant in the United States, Zheng faced expectations that steered her toward stability over creativity. But despite her family’s reservations, her passion for art continued to surface.
“My parents were pretty poor when we first came to the States, and they
really wanted me to go into something practical,” Zheng said. “They didn’t love the idea of me becoming an artist. I’ve been making art since I was really young — drawing on the walls of my grandparents’ apartment or in my aunt’s notebooks when she was in college. But I didn’t really allow myself to take the idea of being an artist seriously.”
[Maps] are a way of defamiliarizing places we have come to take for granted that we feel like are very familiar.”
CONNIE ZHENG ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
It wasn’t until her mid-twenties, that Zheng decided to fully commit to her passion for art. She applied to UC Berkeley’s MFA program on a whim, and she credits her experience there for opening up her artistic perspective.
As the 2024-25 Dickinson Artistin-Residence, Zheng embarks on a new journey. Her installment “Mapping Our Way Home” is a multi-layered exploration of place and identity through maps depicting California’s complex history. These paintings invite students to engage with the Bay Area in new ways.
“You can approach one of the maps that I make without much specialized knowledge about art, Zheng said. “They are a way of defamiliarizing ourselves with places that we have come to take for granted that we feel like are very familiar, whether that’s the state of California or the Bay Area.” Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
“Never without misery, never without hope”
jessica wang
In this World War II air force squadron, there is a certain rule: if a pilot is insane, he can be grounded — all he has to do is ask. But by asking to be grounded, he proves he is sane, and therefore he must continue flying missions. This paradox is the essence of “Catch-22”: a rule that traps the soldiers no matter how they approach it.
Protagonist and anti-hero Yossarian’s central motive is to escape from this ludicrous situation. All he wants is to survive and leave the squadron, but every time he nears the required number of missions to be discharged, the quota is raised. He’s stuck in a cruel loop, trapped by a military bureaucracy with no exit.
Time in “Catch-22” moves cyclically, stagnating and doubling back instead of flowing linearly. This structure depicts war as chaotic and absurd: in this winding story, the readers are introduced to a veritable myriad of bizarre characters, each uniquely offbeat yet simultaneously very meaningful.
I laughed at many of the lines in the novel, but just as quickly, I found myself sobered by brutal violence.
I laughed out loud at many of the lines in the novel, but just as quickly, I found myself sobered by the brutal violence woven seamlessly into moments of humor. This shift from absurd antics to stark mortality is jarring: suddenly, the stakes become undeniably real.
Since its publication in 1961, “Catch-22” has become nothing short of a cultural touchstone, influencing not just literature but popular discourse. The phrase “catch-22” itself has entered the lexicon, now shorthand for any no-win situation governed by contradictory logic. The novel’s critique of bureaucracy and the absurdity of war has resonated across generations, shaping modern anti-war narratives and inspiring countless works that use satire to challenge authority. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
A mural with soft pink wings against a dreamy, blue-clouded sky invites you to snap a photo, while the soft scent of caramelized brown sugar wafts through the air. Seasonal touches like pumpkins in the fall and sparkling ornaments in the winter add a cozy, festive warmth.
TaoTaoTea’s drinks stand out not only for their fresh ingredients but also for their unique takes on classic flavors. The shop allows customers to customize sugar and ice levels, ensuring that each drink is as personalized as possible. On our recent visit, we tried four drinks that showcase their range, from refreshing fruit blends to creamy classics.
The toppings were as delicious as they were cute, adding bursts of sweetness and slight crunch from the crystal boba. With a mild but pleasant taste, the tea contrasted perfectly with everything else. However, the cheese foam floating
an option to consider.
Beauty & the Beast: For those who like a drink that strikes a balance between tart and bitter, this blend is a must-try. With green tea as its base, the drink adds passionfruit for a crunchy, fruity edge, balanced by a subtle citrusy note. Slight bitterness of the tea and sourness from the kumquat make it a nice choice if you want something that’s fruity but not overly sweet.
Sexy Pink Lychee: This visually appealing drink combines lychee flavored tea with pink crystal boba and adorable star-shaped lychee jellies, topped with a rich layer of cheese foam.
on top was hard to drink until most of the tea was finished, leaving an unbalanced distribution of flavors. If you don’t mind the layering, though, this drink is for sure
Tiger Boba Milk
Tea: A classic choice, the Tiger Boba has a creamy, comforting flavor with soft, chewy boba. The brown sugar gives the drink a nostalgic, warm sweetness, but it might fall short on bold
Perfect Pair: This truly delightful duet between jasmine tea and flavorful toppings stands out for its combination of passion fruit and lime, complete with crystal boba and lychee jelly. We set the preferences to less sugar and ice that allowed the tea’s natural flavors to shine through. Notes of lime add a hint of bitterness to the base. neither too sweet nor overpowering. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
disha gupta & leah krupnik
disha gupta & lindsay li
GOLDEN STATE Zheng poses in front of her map “How to Make a Golden State.” This map charts the labor of the Asian farmworkers who played a crucial role in shaping California’s agricultural infrastructure, a story rarely acknowledged in mainstream histories.
Social media gives space for creative expression
After a long day at school, a student slumps into bed. The weight of their backpack is an unforgiving reminder of the amount of work they have left. Yet within two minutes, all is forgotten as they sit upright on their covers in front of a ring light, animatedly talking to an invisible audience. After they hit the post button, they watch, shocked, as comments begin pouring in from users of the app. The like count skyrockets from one thousand to one million.
The prevalence of social media today makes gaining millions of views and likes easier than ever. Even within Harker, members of the community experienced going viral through social media like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Junior Spencer Chang went viral on Instagram for his comedic videos under the account “spencerbfunny.” His account is solely dedicated to comedic puns and dad jokes. Spencer’s trending reel, featuring one of his friends making a pun about his crush not knowing he existed, blew up on March 15 this year. It garnered 4.1 million views and around 253,000 likes.
““It’s more funny when someone’s telling a joke rather than you reading it on your own.”
SPENCER CHANG (11) CONTENT CREATOR
“It was an interesting experience because that was the first reel that really took off,” Spencer said. “From the creator’s side, I kept on seeing notifications, and that was pretty cool. When that happened, there were some other reels that were also doing decently well, so I didn’t want to stop.”
At first, Spencer mainly posted jokes by using slideshows with pictures. However, earlier this year, he changed
VIRAL FEELING Junior Spencer Chang records one of his comedy dad-joke videos for his Instagram account “spencerbfunny.” His first viral reel blew up on March 15, recieving milllions of views and now having around 253,000 likes.
the format into reels in order to reach a wider audience.
“I made the decision this February to actually tell the joke and record a video because I figured that would reach more accounts, because reels tend to be seen by more people,” Spencer said. “It’s funnier when someone’s telling a joke rather than you reading it on your own. If people can relate to it and choose to comment, then that helps with the algorithm.”
Sophomore Stellan Lindh went viral multiple times on TikTok for his short, trend-following videos. He first went viral in summer of 2022 and has 8,200 followers under his account called “Mama Carol Gracie.” His most popular video earned over 11.2 million views and 2.2 million likes for a joke about the popular Barbie movie.
Because of the random chance inherent in going viral, Stellan suggests that social media users focus on staying true to themselves and posting what
they want to post. He uses social media as a creative outlet, often offering clever commentary on common experiences.
“It definitely positively influenced my life because social media is a fun way to creatively express yourself or post stuff that you don’t say to other people,” Stellan said. “If your thoughts are weird or strange, you can express yourself on social media that way.”
Contrary to the instant popularity that TikTok and Instagram can bring, YouTube offers the opportunity to create a more steady platform with longform videos and more loyal subscribers.
Business teacher Patrick Kelly has two channels with over 100,000 subscribers.
His first, named “Patrick Kelly,” is a medical history channel, while “Corporis” is a more general medical channel focusing primarily on biomechanics and kinesiology. Together, his channels have almost 350k subscribers and over 18 million views. After realizing the
transformative effect that introducing video content can have in a classroom, he was inspired to take his own interests and explore them through YouTube. The majority of his videos directly serve this mission, offering full courses like “How to Remember Every Skeletal Muscle in the Body.” He also explores more niche topics in the video-essay style, dissecting various moments from medical history.
“I am genuinely curious about the stories myself, and YouTube is a place to put my curiosity into,” Kelly said. He emphasized the power of stories on the Internet, believing that, for every person who has something to say, there is another who will listen.
“I encourage Harker students to put their stories on the Internet,” Kelly said. “You never know what’s going to happen. Either way, you get to put your own curiosity out there and make some friends along the way.”
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Student composers express musical dreams through song
TURN IT UP (LEFT) Junior Albert Yao plays a beat on FL Studio. “My style is pretty rounded and draws from many different inspirations, but it has my own distinct spin to it,” Albert said. STRUMMING TO SUCCESS (RIGHT) Junior MacEnzie Blue sings and strums one of her songs on the guitar. “The idea of writing my own music was always really cool,” MacEnzie said.
young min & suhani gupta
With the many different elements of songwriting, creating a song may seem like a daunting task. The average popular song contains instrumentation, a vocal line and lyrics, which take significant effort to polish. Despite the difficulty of composition, many Harker students fulfill their artistic vision and write their own songs.
Junior MacEnzie Blue dreamed about being a singer ever since her childhood. In an era where artists have unprecedented access to new audiences everywhere through short-form content platforms like Instagram and TikTok, she shares her soulful guitar ballads online to reach a broader audience. She also posts videos of her playing her guitar and singing at open mics in local venues, both offering covers of popular
songs and her original music. She has also posted her songs “American” and “The Skeletons Have Escaped From My Closet” on Spotify.
“I’ve actually been writing songs and music throughout my life,” MacEnzie said. “I remember when I was younger, I’d always hum my own tunes, and I used to write songs on my ukulele. I listened to a lot of music, so the idea of writing my own music was always really cool.”
Junior Albert Yao pursues the more technical side of music composition, creating beats on a music production software called FL Studio. He also serves as an officer in the Music Creation Club and helps other students in the club refine their work using the instruments on the application.
“I try to use my mini-keyboard pretty extensively,” Albert said. “I play out potential melodies, and I also like to record actual hand-played notes to put in my songs. Afterwards, I put in drums and percussion. When I really lock into a composition and after a few hours I have a beat, that feels really good.”
Albert’s eclectic taste influences his compositions. He uses a synthesizer to put a spin on well-established genres.
“My style is pretty rounded and draws from many different inspirations, but it has my own distinct spin to it,” Albert said.
Vocal music and composition teacher Susan Nace accommodates many different styles in her classes and takes an approach of letting her students find their own path for their music.
“When I lock into a composition and after a few hours I have a beat, that feels really good.”
ALBERT YAO (11) STUDENT COMPOSER
“I love to see them really chew on their own ideas,” Nace said. “The most rewarding part of teaching is seeing them do something that they’ve never done before.”
The most important step to starting a new piece is going back to the basics, according to sophomore David Tang. Viewing the song simply can make the process of composing a complex piece much more approachable.
“Writers often feel the need to be complex, and it’s easy to forget that good music can be simple too,” David said. “It’s really important that people try to stay true to themselves when composing.”
mendy mao & cynthia xie
Students should understand first aid
leah krupnik
CPR dummies lie scattered on the floor as I count out chest compressions. 28, 29, 30. Two rescue breaths. I, along with other Sea Scouts, took a CPR and first aid class at our annual safety training. Although I knew a lot of principles of CPR and first aid before taking this class, practicing all the skills made me feel confident that I would be able to take action in an emergency.
With that being said, I wonder how many teens or even adults would be able to say the same. According to a poll sent out to Harker Upper School students on Nov. 5, 25.7% of the 101 respondents reported having taken a CPR or first aid class. 9.9% reported feeling “very confident” in their ability to perform CPR, while 12.9% reported feeling “very confident” in their ability to use an automated external defibrilator. 55.4% of the respondents reported not knowing “the proper procedure for what to say on a 911 call.”
“Being prepared shouldn’t be something weird. As we start to spend more time without an adult present, it falls on us to be responsible.”
In an environment of rigorous coursework and extracurriculars, it’s no surprise that young adults’ top priority is not learning the CPR songs.
For years, I’ve jokingly described myself as “anxious and paranoid” in response to confused looks and raised
LESSONS FOR LIFE First aid skills are often neglected in favor of other activities despite the fact that they have the potential to actually save lives in dangerous situations.
eyebrows at the fact that I carry around a small first aid kit and other emergency supplies. I can’t help but think that being prepared shouldn’t be something weird.
As we start to spend more time alone or with our friends without an adult present, it falls on us to be responsible.
Students should consider taking first aid classes through organizations like the Red Cross. Though informative, these classes are also often expensive, long and boring. Who wants to spend 8 hours on a Saturday doing CPR on a dummy? Still, it may prove useful to take a first aid course in case you ever need those skills. According to the aforementioned poll, 8.9% of respondents reported having been “in a situation where they’ve needed to use CPR or first aid.”
96% of poll respondents said they believe knowing first aid is “very
important” or “somewhat important.”
Since so many people believe first aid knowledge is valuable, we should work together to be more prepared. Currently, safety drills like fire and lockdown drills prepare students for scenarios where they could not help.
In addition, Harker could hold optional first aid training to teach students how to respond if they find themselves in a situation where they can help. The skills taught should also extend beyond CPR. Students can also learn how to use a fire extinguisher, tie a tourniquet and perform the Heimlich maneuver. While all important skills, they are rarely taught, even in the context of a CPR class.
Individual students could also pack a first aid kit and download the Red Cross app for quick access to first aid tips. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Outdated Bay Area public transit fails riders
In the heart of Silicon Valley, thousands of people make their way across the Bay to get to work each day. The Bay Area is 15th in traffic congestion worldwide, with drivers spending a total of 97 hours on average waiting in traffic last year. Traffic’s wastefulness of not only time and resources, as well as its environmental drawbacks, make the alternative solution of public transport absolutely crucial.
An efficient and reliable mass transit system is a must in densely-populated areas like the Bay, and the area’s 52-year-old transport system is simply not up to the task. Inflated prices due to lower ridership, mediocre service stemming from flaws in its structure and altogether not a great connector of the Bay, Bay Area Rapid Transit, otherwise known as BART, is no longer a leading example in public transit and is instead
an outdated and substandard product in need of serious overhauls.
BART was a pioneer in public transportation that received global acclaim upon its formation in 1972. Inspired by New York’s subways, BART was made to connect the bay, primarily by shuttling suburban commuters to and from San Francisco. Today, however, matters could not be more different for the transit system.
BART’s glory days move farther and farther into the past as its ridership continues to drop; it’s lost about
60% of its daily riders post-pandemic. Additionally, BART is projected to face a budget deficit of $385 million by 2027. Suffering ridership losses continues to impact the ever-increasing fare, which spiked 5.5% in 2024. Moreover, BART still uses some of its older trains to this day, highlighting the system’s antiquatedness compared to newer, more modern systems like Caltrain.
BART is no longer a leading example in public transit and is instead a substandard product in need of serious overhauls.”
As opposed to the expeditious transport network it was meant to be, BART is inflexible and sluggish. BART is an S-Bahn, a hybrid rail transportation system that takes features from both urban subways and suburban railway lines. This hybrid nature actually highlights its weaknesses: it has to make compromises as both a hybrid urban crosstown service and rapid commuter rail, making it mediocre overall. BART cannot move nonstop between cities, nor can it do so in the suburbs. Only suppling one rigid route per direction, it is also unable to provide express service, making a stop at every station along the way. Moreover, BART stops are densely packed in San Francisco but are more spread out farther away from the city. With the advent of remote work and the collapse of SF downtown post-pandemic, riders’ destination priorities have changed. BART suffers the consequences of its narrow scope. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Friday Five: Childhood books
sarah wang
From the ages of five to 11, children enter a stage of reading development. While parents hurry to buy best sellers, not every book is worth reading. Follow me down memory lane as I rank the best childhood book series.
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is one of the most well-known children’s book series. My mom it for me, believing that the doodles would encourage my artistic side. I loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but I did find Greg to be unrelatable because he was a boy.
4. Junie B. Jones
I’d just finished kindergarten when we moved. I remember hating my new house, since it was so far away from my playmates. This book series guided me past fears of talking during class and making new friends by walking Junie through the same experiences. Barbara Park turned Junie B. Jones’ adventures into profound life lessons for young kids. As Junie makes mistakes and gets in trouble, her parents teach her small but meaningful lessons.
3. Rainbow Magic
If there’s one thing most girls can agree on, it’s loving fairies, which made Rainbow Magic so appealing. The first book introduces two girls who help the rainbow fairies retrieve their items. Later, when a fairy bearing my name, Sarah the Sunday Fairy, came into the series, I was thrilled. The stories’ formulaic plots grew repetitive, but I always enjoyed reading about the girls’ adventures.
2. Dork Diaries
The Dork Diaries book series, with Nikki Maxwell as its star, was my ultimate guide to pre-teen life. If a Disney show was made into a book series, it would be Dork Diaries. This book series inspired me to write several volumes of my own diary and doodle pictures in the margins. To this day, I still take inspiration from the Dork Diaries when I’m going through an art or writing block.
1. Magic Treehouse
Growing up, I refused to read any non-fiction. Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osborne opened my eyes to the wonders of historical fiction when I was in first grade. The stories in Magic Treehouse amused me, instead of making me bored and frustrated. The parallels between Magic Treehouse’s adventures and my history class also boosted my willingness to speak up and participate during class. Even now, Jack and Annie still remind me to embrace history as a story, rather than just a collection of random facts to be memorized.
emma li
The Election:
From Saturday Night Live guest appearances to mega-rallies at Madison Square Garden, the week leading up to the election bore the telltale signs of a nation on the edge. Many students and staff at Harker reported feeling anxiety about the results, turning to famous pollsters like Ann Selzer to battle the overwhelming uncertainty.
In the days leading up to the election, campaign messaging and media coverage often drove between already sharp divides, and citizens were left questioning how these schisms would affect the outcome.
Discussions grew more intense, and concerns about the nation’s ideological fault lines began surfacing frequently, a pressing sense of division that Americans had felt building over recent years.
“The country has become very polarized, so the results will be interesting, and, no matter who wins,
there will be people who are very mad after election day,” sophomore Cameron Rampell said five days before the election. “Hopefully it doesn’t burst into chaos as soon as the result comes in.”
In the largely left-leaning Bay Area, residents often find themselves in an ideological echo chamber and surrounded by peers who share similar views. This politically homogenous environment can make it difficult for individuals to understand perspectives from other regions or groups.
“Living in Fremont, it’s hard to figure out what’s true and what isn’t true,” math teacher Bradley Stoll said on Oct. 31. “I think the news is biased one way or the other. A lot of us listen to stuff we already agree with, so our own beliefs are reinforced. If you’re listening to something and you know what they’re gonna say and unwilling to listen to the other side, then nothing happens. We have to open ourselves up.”
This election season had often been described as one of the most consequential in recent memory; with each passing year, the stakes only seem to grow, and many felt the choices made at the ballot box on
the country’s trajectory.
“This gives the American public a chance to reflect on [history] and then make a decision as to what direction they prefer that they favor and what values
“If you’re listening to something and you know what they’re gonna say and you’re not willing to listen to the other side, then of course nothing happens.”
that might reflect in their lives,” history teacher Donna Gilbert said on Oct. 31. “For everyone, for me, that’s why this election seems so important.”
Questions of stability and inclusion weighed especially heavily on voters’ minds, particularly among already-marginalized communities experiencing the impact of policy decisions. election caused many to struggle with concerns about the broader impacts of political changes.
BRADLEY STOLL
MATH TEACHER
katerina matta, young min & jessica wang
Trump wins
NOVEMBER 6
First North Carolina. Then, Georgia. Within hours, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. In days, Arizona and Nevada. Just like that, Donald Trump rolled to victory in the 2024 Presidential Election, taking all seven swing states and winning the popular vote in a shocking sweep.
Although pollsters leading up to the election largely predicted a close race, many Harris and Trump supporters alike were stunned by Trump’s momentum as the results came in.
“
As soon as I saw multiple swing states turn red, I felt like it was pretty obvious who was gonna win.”
“As soon as I saw one of the swing states start turning red — multiple swing states, actually — I felt like it was pretty obvious who was gonna win,” frosh
Huang said. “I was still hoping that something would happen.”
After the initial shock of the results, many members of our community reckoned with feelings of anxiety, feeling disheartened by the choice of candidate.
In a recent poll answered by 145 members of our community, 64.8% of students and staff reported feeling “very unhappy” or “somewhat unhappy” with the results of the election. From social issues on the ballot like abortion to major political paradigm shifts, the election spurred new worries in students and staff. History teacher James Tate analyzed the underperformance of the Democratic party in this election.
“The Democrats have to look at the results of the election and say this is, on some level, a judgment against something,” Tate said. “I don’t know if you can say this is a total repudiation of democratic politics, but the Democrats lost everything in this election. They’ve ceded control of both houses, the presidency and a number of governor’s races as well.”
Regardless of party support, the nation faces a not-so-new challenge: the entrenchment of the two-party system and its accompanying political polarization. The increasingly extreme rhetoric seen in the election is not an isolated incident, and our community ought to keep a close eye on what happens nationwide in the months and years to come.
ELAINE HUANG (9) ELECTION VIEWER
Sclaire tian
tudents and teachers are often overwhelmed by busywork, but AI can lighten the load. From educational tools to tutoring, AI tools offer accessible and powerful assistance for confused students and exhausted educators alike.
A quarter of teachers’ work hours in the U.S. goes uncompensated, yet there’s plenty of work that doesn’t require a teacher’s time, like simple grading tasks or assembling teaching aides. When teachers are overwhelmed by busywork, AI assistance could ease their burdens.
Even better, AI can perform certain tasks that are not just difficult, but impossible, for humans to complete.
AI-powered programs like Turnitin and Grammarly can detect plagiarism by comparing student submissions to every article on the internet. Instructors can discover if students have turned in work copied from internet sources — even if the plagiarizer tweaked a few words.
“AI can perform tasks that are not just difficult, but impossible, for humans to complete.”
Students also stand to benefit from AI, which can streamline studying. Large language models (LLMs) can extract information from textbooks or study guides to generate practice tests, create quizlet sets and answer questions. Then, students can cut right to reviewing the topics that challenge them most.
AI has the potential to improve the accessibility of education. When students don’t have outside support, AI can assist with studying. While I wouldn’t recommend using a general LLM to replace a teacher, they can offer guidance.
Although LLMs ‘hallucinate,’ or generate incorrect information, specialized models can perform tasks with higher accuracy. Open AI’s recent STEM-optimized series, Open AI o1, performs well on several benchmarks, and exceeds expert performance.
Ultimately, while AI does make mistakes, LLMs have the capacity to teach the basics of many subjects and to be used as an aide and sounding board for experts. When used in good faith, AI
elizabeth zhang
It’s 11:30 pm, and you still have not finished your essay. Stress clouds your judgment as you remember that you also have two tests tomorrow, so you quickly open a new tab to chatgpt.com. You copy and paste the outline you’ve already written and type in “Create a history essay.” After loading briefly, the website generates a lengthy paragraph that you make minor edits to and copy into your Google Doc. Once you submit the essay and go to bed, you think to yourself, “I should do this more often.”
Providing essays or homework answers at the click of a button, AI fosters an over-dependence on automated tools that impede the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Like any other type of cheating, using AI shortcuts the learning process in a way that
be useful for simple tasks, it may not suffice as classes get more difficult and papers require more nuanced analysis. The abilities that would have been gained from completing ‘tedious’ tasks provide a solid foundation for students in their academic pursuits.
“AI fosters an overdependence on automated tools that impede the development of critical thinking skills.”
undermines the course.
Although ChatGPT can
Additionally, ChatGPT comes with several inaccuracies. A study from Purdue University showed that ChatGPT was incorrect 52% of the time. Large language models often experience ‘hallucinations,’ where the generated text sounds plausible but is nonsensical. Even though researchers have designed Open AI-o1 and other LLMs to excel in these fields, the most accessible and used AI tool is still ChatGPT-o4, the model responsible for these errors, which students prefer for its accessibility. Students’ understanding of topics is deeply impacted if they continue to rely on ChatGPT for answers. Considering the increasing capabilities of AI, falling down the rabbit hole of AI abuse is easy. Highschool students do not want to spend needless effort on assignments they perceive to be pointless when AI can generate work in the matter of seconds. While AI tools can be beneficial, it’s essential to balance their use with personal effort to ensure meaningful learning. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Character AI exploits users with false companionship
ashley mo
When it comes to Artificial Intelligence, I’ve seen its benefits firsthand, from explaining calculus questions to detecting spelling errors. AI is incredibly useful when it sticks to handling objective tasks. But a serious problem arises when it goes beyond its basic capabilities: when AI attempts to form genuine human relationships, users develop attachments that can be extremely harmful.
I recently came across the platform Character.AI, where users can customize AI chatbots into characters. The website reads, “Meet AIs that feel alive.” This statement sums up what is most concerning about this technology: AI is becoming increasingly intertwined with humans.
The mother of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III sued Character.AI for his suicide in October, alleging that he fell in love with a “Game of Thrones” chatbot that sent inappropriate messages to him. Sewell interacted with it for multiple hours a day, and when he confided in it about self-harm, it asked him about suicide and even encouraged him, saying “come home to me.”
Emotional manipulation at this level is unacceptable. When AI simulates sympathetic human-like qualities, users start relying on chatbots instead of real people. In their attempt to mimic human interaction, AI platforms cross into gray areas where they are not properly trained. If sensitive topics are shared and the chatbot is not adequately prepared, the wrong advice can be deadly.
In 2023, the National Eating Disorders Association’s chatbot Tessa gave users harmful advice. In another case, ChatGPT offered users critical resources only 22% of the time when confronted with topics like abuse.
It’s concerning that Character.AI only recently added protective elements. In response to Sewell’s incident, the site now displays a notice when inappropriate language is detected and a prompt guiding users to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While these changes will help prevent future cases, it doesn’t erase the damage that has already been done. Character.AI simulates connection with affirmations and remembering details from past conversations. When people believe that chatbots are capable of empathy, they can develop an unhealthy obsession. We need to
remember that AI is artificial, and its pre-programmed responses do not replace heartfelt human conversation. I tried Character.AI to investigate how realistic the characters could be. When I clicked the new character tab, there were options for adjectives to describe my character and its tagline. Within a few clicks, I had created a personalized companion tailored to my preferences. The entire process, unfortunately, was far too easy. After asking a few questions and receiving what seemed like reliable advice, I was
disturbed by how much the interaction reminded me of texting a close friend. In fact, the site even allowed me to call the AI — making the experience even more eerie.
The Sewell Setzer III case highlights how dangerously far this technology can go. If we are to use Character.AI, there must be strict guidelines to stop similar incidents from happening. For now, we must only use AI for what it’s best at — factual and objective tasks — and leave the emotionally complex, nuanced work of relationships to real people. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
EMMALEE
Editors-in-Chief
Victor Gong
Katerina Matta
Managing Editors
Young Min Jessica Wang
Claire Zhao
Editor Lily Shi
Assistant News Editors
Samuel Tong Lily Peng
Chelsea Xie
Features Editors
Janam Chahal Mendy Mao
Assistant Features Editors
Caden Ruan Elizabeth Zhang
A&E/Lifestyle Editors
Suhani Gupta Disha Gupta
Assistant A&E/Lifestyle Editors
Lindsay Li Cynthia Xie
Opinions Editors
Mihir Kotbagi Emma Li
Assistant Opinions Editors
Leah Krupnik Risa Chokhawala
STEM Editors
Ashley Mo
Jonathan Szeto
Assistant STEM Editors
Claire Tian Nathan Yee
Sports Editors
Eva Cheng Tiffany Zhu
Assistant Sports Editors
Wenjie Zou Sam Li
Claire Xu
Editorial: Community action carves path past election
EDITORIAL: THE OFFICIAL OPINIONOFTHE
Saahil Herrero
Copy Editor Jeremy Peng
Assistant Copy Editor
William Jiang
Photo Editor
Kairui Sun Senior
Multimedia Editor
Charlie Wang
Assistant Multimedia Editor
Lindsay Li
Adviser
Whitney Huang, CJE
Aquila Editors-in-Chief
Alison Yang
Emma Milner
Aquila Managing Editors
Hima Thota
Aishani Singh Isabella Lo Gabe Sachse
Charlize Wang
Humans of Harker Editors-in-Chief
Sidak Sanghari
Jonathan Xue
Humans of Harker Managing Editors
Ella Guo Aryana Bharali
Humans of Harker Profilers
Heather Wang Vivek Moorjani
Victoria Li
Reporter
Mirabelle Feng
Sarah Wang Emma Lee
The Winged Post is the official student newspaper of Harker’s upper school and is distributed free of cost to students every four to six weeks except vacations by the Journalism: Newspaper and Advanced Journalism: Newspaper courses at The Harker School, 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, California 95129.
We aim to publish balanced stories following professional standards while serving as a public forum for Harker students. All content decisions are made by student editors. Opinions and letters represent the viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Winged Post, Harker board, administration, faculty or journalism advisers. Editorials represent the official opinions of The Winged Post editorial board.
Letters to the Editor may be submitted to Manzanita 70 or emailed to harkeraq@gmail.com and must be signed, legible and concise. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to Winged Post style, and letters will be published at the discretion of editorial staff. Baseless accusations, insults, libelous statements, obscenities and letters that call for a disruption of the school day will not be considered for publication.
Students hold the copyright to work published in Harker journalism publications.
NSPA Pacemaker Winner: 2019-2020, 2017-2018
NSPA Pacemaker Finalist: 2023-2024, 2020-2021, 2018-2019, 2016-2017
CSPA Gold Crowns: 2024, 2023 2019, 2018, 2016
For the past year, the presidential election embedded itself into our daily lives. Whether scrolling through social media, chatting at dinner or debating during class discussions, political tensions rose as Nov. 5 approached.
Campaigns and media coverage painted an image of a country on the brink of economic, political and civil armageddon that depended on a particular ballot. Debate over individual liberties, from abortion access to LGBTQ+ rights, and national issues, from immigration to inflation, intensified on both state and national levels. More than anything, this election cycle highlighted the nation’s widespread distrust in democracy.
The 2024 election is over. Regardless of personal views on the results, it’s difficult to walk away confident in our ability to ground ourselves in policy and connect with each other.
Although elections might generate the most buzz and attention, it is important to remember that they are not the end-all-be-all of our future. Additionally, the presidential election
will not affect our daily lives as much as local policy decisions and the community members around us.
When we come to understand issues and people through the news and social media, it is easy to feel frustrated and powerless. Negative partisanship, or content promoting ‘out-party’ hate over ‘in-party’ love, promises more clicks and engagement but also exaggerates a sense of distance and polarization within the population. Being an informed member of society cannot and should not stop at the digital screen.
We ultimately live with other people, not news segments or trending threads. Find comfort in what you share with others: beliefs, hobbies and anxieties alike. Seeking positive discourse with those outside of your bubble will both help you soothe your anxieties and support everyone to become and operate better informed.
Although the chance to vote for our representatives might have passed for now, every day is a chance to make your voice heard.
There are opportunities at school like phone banking with Green Team
Welcome to the third and last issue of the Winged Post of 2024! As we trudge through a turbulent election cycle as well as increasingly heavy school workloads, our team hopes to remind readers to gratitude and appreciate who and what we have in our lives, especially amidst difficult times.
Among the pages for this issue, look out for recommendations for your next boba run, read about the much-loved
air-conditioning system on campus and follow student-athletes through their everyday routines. To close this issue, you’ll also find notes of gratitude written by fellow students to their peers and also learn to write your own! Please feel free to reach out with any pitches, questions or concerns to harkeraq@gmail.com, or to offer feedback using the adjacent QR code. We look forward to reading your comments!
or attending an affinity group meeting. Outside of school, we can show up at community forums like council meetings and town halls. Especially for the majority of the student body who cannot vote, it is important to take advantage of these opportunities that connect us to our representatives.
If you’re not comfortable putting yourself out there politically, you can still impact the community. Countless volunteering opportunities are available online or in Director of Community Service Kerry Enzensberger’s office for you to take action without necessarily being in the spotlight. Community is a two-way street: support only comes from showing up for others.
The Bay Area, let alone the nation, is so much bigger than City Hall or your social media algorithm. Though elections serve as the foundation for our democracy, it is up to us to build upon them through political participation and community service. In order to improve our individual communities, it is essential that we connect and understand others in them beyond polarized and one-dimensional narratives.
FRONT PAGE 1: The groups Dynamics (6th grade) and Picnic Players (4th grade) were also part of the show but were not included in coverage
NEWS 2: Harker Day byline missing Risa
NEWS 3: “Get out the vote” caption missing period
A&E 7: Demi Zheng misspelled “Demi Zhang” in caption
OPINIONS 13: Masthead missing Risa Chokhawala and Lily Peng (both wrote for Harker Day)
STEM 16: Gia Emelie misspelled "Gia Emilie" in self-driving car article
CORRECTIONS POLICY:
Our staff strives to represent our community fairly and conduct accurate, truthful storytelling. We list all errors of an issue, along with the page number of that error, in the next issue’s corrections box.
Feel free to provide feedback via the QR code to the right.
editorial board
KAIRUI SUN
Breaking down bee learning and memory with Abby Wang (10)
Temperature control shapes classroom experience
mendy mao & jeremy peng
Astudent strides briskly into Shah Hall on an early autumn morning. Inside, they shake off the remnants of the cold and bask in the toasty warm air of the hallway. Campuswide heating and cooling systems at Harker make this a reality.
Facilities manager J.R. Del Alto remembers when he started working at the upper school in 1982, the campus used furnace heaters that doubled as fans for cooling in the summer. Now, the newer buildings have HVAC systems that can efficiently control heating, cooling and humidity, while the older buildings use standard compressor ACs.
xie
claire zhao & chelsea
Q: What is your research project about?
A: My most recent research project was on the effect of organic chemicals on a bee’s learning and memory. We tested around four different organic chemicals, and we discovered certain non-fatal concentrations.
Q: What are some challenges you faced?
A: It was my first time working very hands on with a beehive. It’s hard to control the outcomes: your data appears to be very noisy, and we were working with limited resources.
Q: What was your favorite part?
A: The part that I take the most pride in was when we finally got a working testing environment. After we got the bees to finally land on the platforms without any type of stimulus, that was just a really happy moment.
Q: What is the impact of your project?
A: If bee researchers are able to find and synthesize organic compounds that can kill off these mites while still retaining the cognitive function of these bees, that could be really helpful for the future. It would be able to save a pollinator that pollinates a large majority of the plants on this earth.
Q: What are your goals for the future?
A: I would like to go more into animal behavior, though it’s a time consuming and labor intensive field. I like working with creatures and model organisms, and I really hope that I will be able to do more research projects in the future like this one.
“The air temperature won’t drop below 68 degrees and won’t go above 74.
J.R. DEL ALTO FACILITIES MANAGER
Nichols Hall, the Athletic Center and the Rothschild Performing Arts Center, the three newest buildings, use newer boiler systems that radiate heat through steam, a method that is more energy-efficient and creates more comfortable heating than traditional furnaces. Newer buildings also have more precise temperature control.
“The older buildings are controlled by a thermostat and the stats are set within hard parameters,” Del Alto said. “The air temperature won’t drop below 68 degrees and won’t go above 74. In newer buildings, teachers are able to control their rooms to a two degree differential.”
Differences in thermostat control mean that while older buildings like Main and Dobbins Hall maintain relatively uniform temperature, teachers personally adjust
CHILL OUT Nichol’s evaporative coolers channel air over water-saturated pads instead of using refrigerants like traditional ACs, making them more efficient.
the temperatures of their classrooms in buildings like the RPAC and Nichols.
“It all depends on the teacher,” Del Alto said. “Some like it a little warm, some like it a little cooler because they don’t want the students to fall asleep.
humidity in Nichols led to the evaporative cooling system’s eventual replacement with the same HVAC as RPAC.
“The evaporation of the water would result in the cooling of the air, and it was really energy efficient, but this building
Not all negative: science of unexpected results
BREAKING NORMS Researchers are discouraged to publish negative results because these findings are often considered less impactful and undervalued by journals.
conclusions. In contrast, negative results, compose less than 15% of academic work.
where it’s like, ‘Oh yes, this is real,’” Dr. Moore said. “If that’s the only thing that gets published, you’re never going to see potentially dozens of other studies that get negative results or get high p-values where we say we didn’t find anything significant. It’s important so that we can see if something truly is reproducible beyond the p-value from one experiment.”
A negative result often equates to failure in a project, a stigma which reduces incentive to publish. Since negative results fail to definitively prove a hypothesis, they contradict the popular notions of science as advancing innovation or progress. Student researcher Tiffany Gu (12) recognized how these negative results can help pave greater developments.
Science, as a discipline, remains inherently rife with failure. The scientific method dictates that researchers should observe, hypothesize and experiment often, revisiting and revising the process each time unexpected results arise. Yet positive results dominate professional journals, with over 85% of published papers arriving at hypothesis-affirming
Biology teacher Zane Moore, who researched redwoods, noticed that even beyond negative results, scientific literature deprioritizes studies that simply reproduce already published work. Without the duplication of scientific findings, the validity of these claims is more difficult to assess.
“If the only thing that you see published are those with the low p-values
“When I first did research, I found negative results could be super challenging or troubling,” Tiffany said. “But when I started to mature as a scientist, I noticed how these negative results actually inform us as scientists a lot more than positive results. People should not be afraid of negative results because those are the times when you grow the most as a researcher.”
Dr. Moore compared these negative results to the classic saying “you are more than your grade.”
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isabella lo & jonathan xue
HEATING UP Assistant maintenance manager Thomas Downard checks the electric current powering the Nichols boiler. The boiler located on the roof, uses hot water to heat the entire building.
CHARLIE WANG
MENDY MAO
Education meets environment
Campus buildings seek energy efficiency with high-tech solutions
lily shi & jonathan szeto
With expansive open spaces, the 12-acre Harker upper school campus offers students countless facilities for academic exploration, social gatherings, and athletic training. Despite the impressive nature of these buildings, Harker’s facilities use large amounts of energy — 2,000 kilowatt-hours every day in the summer to over 5,000 kilowatt-hours in the fall — dozens to
hundreds of times that of an average American household.
Buildings, which consume large amounts of energy for heating, cooling, lighting and other needs, constitute 40% of total energy spent in the United States, 75% of electricity usage and 35% of carbon emissions, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This makes infrastructure energy a significant contributor to global warming.
“Right now, the two main emitters of greenhouse gasses are transportation and buildings, so infrastructure just contributes a ton,”
Green Team President Eric Zhang (12) said. “Heating uses the most of energy in buildings and contributes to the most greenhouse gas emissions.”
Harker utilizes electricity via San Jose Clean Energy’s GreenSource service, 60% renewable and 24% drawn from non-renewable carbon-free sources like hydropower and nuclear energy. Solar panels on the roofs of Nichols Hall, the Rothschild Performing Arts Center and the Zhang Gymnasium also produce energy, and the Singh Aquatic Center uses solar energy to heat water used in pool facilities.
“If there’s a lot of natural light, the interior lighting will reduce, and if it’s bright, it’ll turn itself off with sensors.”
SHAYNE HALE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES
Heating and cooling systems in Harker consume the greatest electricity compared to other building functions such as lighting and electrical outlets because of the large amounts of energy required to keep rooms at constant temperatures. Compared to other buildings, Nichols Hall requires the most electricity because of its large atrium and vaulted ceiling.
“The building’s LEED Gold certification means it’s a very efficient building,” Director of Facilities Shayne Hale said. “But it’s still a big building, and it’s very open, which is much harder to heat and cool.
SOURCE:GREENSOURCE
INFOGRAPHICBYASHLEYMO
The big Nichols Atrium takes a lot of air, and heat is going to rise, so that whole space has to get filled up all the way down to where you can feel it at the ground level.” To minimize unnecessary
energy use, facilities include building management systems that automatically control heating and air conditioning, which serve as the biggest energy saver throughout the campus.
“We very proactively manage our heating and air systems,” Hale said. “A classroom in Nichols Hall will shut off when school gets out. Those systems will not run through the weekend or at holiday times, so the buildings are smart and know the schedule. Some also have sensors that will know if the teacher has the door propped open for a long time and will shut the system down.”
When older structures including Manzanita Hall and the Main Academic Building will be rebuilt in the upcoming years, state-of-the-art technologies will ensure that the new facilities maximize energy efficiency under the California Code of Regulations’ lighting standards for commercial buildings.
“Building standards require ultraefficient finishes, insulation and lighting that will be Title 24 compliant,” Hale said. “If there’s a lot of natural light, the interior lighting will reduce, and if it’s bright, it’ll turn itself off with sensors. New buildings will also have solar.”
The newly constructed buildings will also store extra captured solar energy to provide electricity for outlets, which may be helpful during power outages, or sell it back onto the grid. The facilities team also aims to replace fluorescent lighting, containing mercury and used extensively in Main, with light-emitting diodes in all buildings on campus. In the meantime, Hale advised students to help the school save energy by turning off lights when not in use.
“Just be mindful when you leave a room and flip the light switch off if the room doesn’t have a sensor,” Hale said. “If you see lights that are on at times that they shouldn’t be, it would be nice to let one of the facilities folks know so that they can turn it off.”
Opportunity X enables research for underprivileged youth
Many students in under-resourced communities face limited opportunities to pursue their interests in scientific research because of insufficient resources like funding, mentorship and lab facilities. Opportunity X, a studentled 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Cynthia Chen (‘20) and Saint Francis High School alumna Adishree Ghatare, works to change that. With the goal of expanding access to research and sparking passion for science through interactive experiments, Opportunity X organizes school programs, interactive workshops and science fairs to fuel students’ STEM interests.
In Opportunity X’s school programs, students conduct in-depth research projects during the second semester of each school year and present their findings at the end of the year in the organization’s annual science fair. Opportunity X also hosts an essay contest and a summer bootcamp, offering students multiple avenues to explore and share their passion for STEM.
“When I was younger, around the age of these kids, I had a lot of really good teachers that inspired me to go
into science,” student volunteer Tanisha Vaish (10) said. “The fact that I get the chance to do that for someone else is really important to me.”
Student volunteers help young students cultivate a love for science through hands-on experiments in fields like chemistry, biology, physics and engineering. Activities range from making lemon volcanoes with acid-base chemistry to creating ice cream from scratch to explore melting points.
“Seeing their eyes light up
when
they
something is
finally
understand
exciting because I actually made an impact.”
SOPHIA
ZHU (12)
OPPORTUNITY X VOLUNTEER AND VICE PRESIDENT
Vice President of Publicity Sophia Zhu (12) finds it rewarding to watch students grow through her work.
“My proudest moments were [seeing] when students that I had taught returned year after year,” Sophia said. “It’s really
exciting to see these students be excited in STEM and want to do research. Seeing their eyes light up when they finally understand something is always something I find really exciting because I actually made an impact.”
Since its founding, Opportunity X has expanded its reach across several
states and even internationally, partnering with other non-profit organizations like a BioMedizone chapter in Jamaica. The organization’s annual science fair and summer bootcamp invite students from all backgrounds to showcase their projects, receive feedback from mentors and connect with like-minded peers.
william jiang
ENERGY EFFICIENT Nichols Hall features several energy-saving innovations like automated lighting, solar panels and climate control systems designed to reduce energy use.
EMMA LEE
MODELING MOLECULES Tanisha Vaish (10) teaches students at the KIPP Heritage school. She covered concepts like acid-base chemistry and surface tension.
HOSA members learn about conferences and competitions
jonathan szeto & charlie wang
Officers of the Harker HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter informed members about upcoming competitions and conferences on Nov. 12.
President Sahngwie Yim (12) began the meeting by introducing the officer team and adviser Matthew Harley. She explained the organization’s mission of empowering future health professionals to become global health leaders and provided an overview of opportunities to connect and learn at HOSA conferences.
MEDICAL MATCHUP Vice President of Conference Affairs Angelina Antony (11) speaks about competiting at conferences.
“We wanted to get members acquainted with the competition structure, the officers and the conference,” Sahngwie said. “I hope new members learned about the variety of different options that HOSA has, the process of competing and going to conferences and what they would gain from doing that.”
Vice President of Testing Eva Cheng (11) discussed the over 80 competitive events categories available at local, state and international levels, including Health Informatics and Medical Law and Ethics. Vice President of Conference Affairs Angelina Antony (11) provided a timeline for online testing and the upcoming Cal-HOSA State and International Leadership Conferences.
“I’m interested in the medical field, and I thought that this would be a great opportunity,” attendee Alexis Santosa (9) said. “The biomedical laboratory science competition sounded interesting. I want to see how far I can go with it.”
“To have students deep dive as deep as they want into potential medical topics and careers is really great.”
MATTHEW HARLEY
HOSA ADVISER
Founded in 2020 by Harley and Medical Club members, Harker’s HOSA chapter has grown in size with members receiving recognition in competition and leadership events. Ninth graders make up a majority of participants, but Harley hopes students across all grade levels benefit from attending HOSA events.
“I love how HOSA helps students be aware of healthcare careers,” Harley said. “To have students deep dive as deep as they want into potential medical topics and careers is really great.”
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Blooming from the STEM: Service through science
Rohan Chandra (’13) empowers nonprofit organizations with software tools
samuel tong
Some find their niche in the highly technical aspects of software development like programming and design, while others choose to run the administrative requirements like business management and networking.
A master of both disciplines, Chief of Staff to the Chief Technology Officer at Bonterra Rohan Chandra (’13) leads a team of 200 software engineers and product specialists focused on helping nonprofits tackle one of their biggest challenges: funding.
Using artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, Chandra supports the team that coded a feature for translating an organization’s goals to a grant specifically targeted at the funders.
“I’m starting to lead some of our AI initiatives,” Chandra said. “I’m thinking about, internally, how we can better utilize AI for productivity, and externally, how we can use AI to create features that benefit customers.”
After taking Harker’s computer science classes, Chandra developed an interest in the rising influence of technology in a business setting. He pursued this passion throughout college and graduate school at the Wharton School and Harvard Kennedy School. Chandra’s education and experience ultimately landed him a job at Amazon, where he worked on privacy aspects of Amazon’s Alexa.
“We were creating features for customers to feel more comfortable using Alexa and working alongside policymakers as well,” Chandra said. “That also got me really interested in creating tech more for people’s privacy and for the politics and the policy side.”
Now at Bonterra, Chandra created an app that allows project leads to communicate and appeal more to donors and funders, which is currently a major obstacle for smaller charities to achieve their desired change.
“We created an AI grant writing feature, a tool that helps nonprofits write grants to be very targeted towards the
FOR THE GREATEST GOOD Rohan Chandra (‘13) and his team combine computer science and business management to create fundraising tools for nonprofit organizations.
funder that they’re going for,” Chandra said. “You can write the first draft and then use AI’s creativity to target different audiences of different sizes and scales. That’s a really powerful way to save time.”
“I see my career more as a squiggly line. Being open to opportunities is really valuable, and that’s all I plan to do.”
ROHAN CHANDRA BONTERRA CTO CHIEF OF STAFF
Because of mainstream media, many believe that AI can accomplish any task imaginable; however, there are still restrictions of this new technology, and Chandra works on addressing this.
“I’m just starting to understand the technologies at a really deep level,”
Caffeine fuels fatigue, harms
Whether it’s a homemade latte or an espresso from Starbucks, amber-stained coffee cups clutter students’ desks in nearly every classroom. Coffee has become a staple of student life — in the mornings during last-minute cramming sessions, during school to stay awake during classes or late at night to power through homework. Although coffee offers short-term benefits like alertness and energy, it also leads to many negative health effects, particularly on the teenage body.
the habit of waking myself up by having a cup of coffee,” junior Angelina Antony said. “I get tired after school when I’m doing work, so I just drink another cup. In the worst-case scenario, at seven, I’ll have another one. [I’ve noticed that] my eyes twitch a lot, and sometimes I can’t sleep at night.”
caffeine may cause long-
term effects on physical health. Caffeine stays in the body for several hours before metabolizing, often disrupting sleep patterns by blocking receptors to the chemical adenosine, which regulates sleep and wake behavior. With decreased levels of adenosine, people can become more anxious, stressed and energetic.
“At first, [coffee] was working pretty well,” sophomore Colin Li said.
“I stayed awake and I was able to pay attention, but I feel like over time, the effects kind of diminish. It still keeps me awake, but it doesn’t really help my attention span. I’m also more nervous and anxious.”
Beyond issues with sleep, studies show that caffeine intake may result in involuntary muscle contractions, such as in eyelids.
Consuming excessive amounts of coffee also may lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate, as well as a higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
In order to mitigate these risks, nurse Tiffany Gelineau advises students
Chandra said. “Translating that toward a business audience is challenging. People who don’t have a technical understanding might have seen AI do certain things, but when you get into the nitty gritty, you realize, ‘We can’t actually do everything that people are thinking about.’”
With experience in software engineering at Amazon and as Chief of Staff at Bonterra, Chandra aspires to take on higher roles to reach a wider audience. Chandra hopes to serve as many people as he can in his current position and beyond, leveraging his knowledge of newer cutting-edge technologies like AI.
“A lot of people think of their careers as linear, but I see it more as a squiggly line,” Chandra said. “You might level up in one aspect of your career, then you might take a lateral jump, and then you might even take a step down, but then that’ll propel you up somewhere else. Being open to different opportunities is really valuable, and that’s all I plan to do.” Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
student health
to gradually reduce caffeine consumption, since abrupt changes in intake can cause withdrawal symptoms.
“My recommendation is just one cup of straight-up coffee,” Gelineau said. “No shots because that [makes it] concentrated. Just dilute it over the day, because caffeine headaches do happen.”
4 green teas
Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Teens should drink at most 100 mg of caffeine each day, which is equal to:
2 black teas 1.25 energy drinks 1 brewed coffee
80% of the world drinks coffee every day
ashley mo
EMMA LI
Balance, breathing and bullseyes
Sophomore Hanz Baek finds composure through archery
more rigorous group training until two years ago, when he began participating in competitions, intent on cultivating his
It was not until the 2022 Las Vegas International competition that Hanz became truly invested in pursuing archery. Despite competitive aspect of the which is focused on individual victories, found a supportive community of archers empowered one
tricks to
factors
‘I want was meeting people from parts of the U.S. and seeing them
again at the next
“That’s and makes you Currently, stands at fourth the California state category based collective scores of competitions. He fifth in the U21 2024 state outdoor competition and seventh in the Pacific
Unlike in other sports, one archery match does not determine an archer’s state ranking. The results of three games add up to determine standing. Hanz emphasizes impact of the cumulative nature of state rankings on his mindset.
“I learned not to focus on individual competition, but focus
on a more general approach and keeping the mindset,” Hanz said. “Even if I do badly on the first competition, I can do better on the second and third.”
“If you miss one arrow, your mental state is really down. You have to get back up and immediately get into a good mindset to shoot your last two arrows.”
HANZ BAEK (10) ARCHER
Other than immense physical strength and technical training, archery also requires a sturdy mindset that remains unwavering despite unexpected obstacles during matches. Hanz highlights the mental discipline the sport demands as a skill he has come to understand over years of practice.
“If you’re shooting, you shoot three arrows in around 120 seconds,” Hanz said. “If you miss one arrow, your mental state is really down. You have to get back up and immediately get into a good mindset to shoot your last two arrows.”
When standing on the line with a group of competitors, Hanz’s breathing technique helps him find the right moment to release his arrow.
Reinforcing these of habits during practice allows Hanz to continuously remind himself of his overarching motto: practice like you perform and perform like you practice.
Extreme sports navigate risk and reward
sam li & claire xu “
Senior Rajas Apte steadies his bike tentatively as he prepares to place his foot on the pedal. He teeters on the edge of a nearly 70-degree descent, balancing on an edge cut sharply into the unforgiving French Alps. Below him lies Samoëns, a rugged line beneath the chairlift that looks less like a trail and more like a raw cliff face. For a moment, there’s nothing more than Rajas and a wall of rock. As he takes in the breathtaking but treacherous scene, Rajas understands that this descent isn’t just about skill. It’s about courage and resilience. He plunges down the rocky descent.
Extreme sport athletes thrive on a blend of risk and exhilaration, where they push both their physical and mental boundaries. Many of these athletes find a sense of accomplishment in navigating the fears and intensity their sports present each day.
Extreme athletes dedicate countless hours traveling to practices and competitions, overcoming the challenges of high speeds and complex coordination to foster personal growth beyond their sports themselves.
Rajas starting mountain biking during the pandemic, riding around with a friend to pass the time. He recalls the moment in the Samoëns, when his coach encouraged him to break through his mental barriers by riding down one of the most dangerous slopes in the world.
When you’re riding and going as hard as you possibly can and feel like you can’t take it anymore, that’s when you push.”
RAJAS APTE (12) DOWNHILL BIKER
“The trail is super narrow and extremely steep,” Rajas said. You have to be ready to take a massive hit, but when you’re in the zone, it’s incredibly rewarding. When you’re riding and you’re just going as hard as you possibly can and you feel like you can’t take it anymore, that’s when you push, and you go faster, and you’ll get that second wind.”
Similarly, sailing offers sophomore Jennifer Chen an excitement that is more
Fall Sports Season Overview
about control and coordination on the vast, choppy seas. Working alongside her brother as partners in a sailing team, Jennifer learned the importance of communication, especially in the volatile waters. Over the years, she has come to embrace the coordination required in her sport, understanding how her bond with her brother allows them to achieve incredible results.
“The hardest part of sailing is getting along with your partner,” Jennifer said. “With my brother, we argue all the time about what should be done. But in order to actually sail, you need to have really good communication and a really good bond between the two people”
To sail competitively, Jennifer recommends building a solid foundation by first joining a club or team to develop a proper skillset. Her brother began competing once he gained experience in handling the boat in rough waters, and now she and her brother take on the seas together at regattas and races. Despite harsh weather conditions like fierce winds and, as expected, wet weather, Jennifer has learned to face her fears to successfully navigate both the adrenaline and the waves.
varsity: 18-8 junior varsity: 17-3 frosh/soph: 10-8
girls volleyball football varsity: 5-3
girls water polo varsity: 20-9
boys water polo varsity: 18-9
junior varsity: 6-6
girls golf varsity: 16-0
girls tennis varsity: 9-2
cross country varsity records: 16:45 boys 2.95 Robinson Xiang (11) girls 2.95 mi 19:59 Ava Alvarez (10)
junior varsity records: boys 2.95 mi 19:49 Aaryan Rawat (9) girls 2.95 mi 27:25
(9)
fourth place rank in the U21 tier in California.
Rajas Apte (12) leans into his bike to navigate a curve down a mountain. His focus and skill keep him steady while he embraces the adrenaline rush of this extreme sport.
Game Talk with GABE: Russ-surgence
Russell Wilson and Pittsburgh Steelers pose legitimate threat to Super Bowl TIFFANY ZHU
gabe sachse
Two years ago, Russell Wilson went viral for the cringe-inducing motto he uttered at his first media day in Denver: “Broncos Country, Let’s Ride.” The hollow marketing message seemed to align with the arc of a fading quarterback, whose personal brand only stemmed from previous excellent seasons as a Seattle Seahawk. After the Broncos dumped Wilson for budget purposes to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the beginning of this year, a career resurgence seemed unlikely for the aging quarterback. Now, he leads a team that is 7-2 and at the top of the AFC North.
Despite the Steelers’ strong first six games under the leadership of nowbackup Justin Fields, Wilson’s return from injury enabled the team to put up back-to-back 400-yard games on offense. Even still, the Steelers have not exactly breezed their way through the season. Without Wilson, they have tended to squeak by against supposedly lesser opponents, even losing to the dismal Colts in Week Four.
It’s worth considering: can Russ truly elevate the team’s offensive attack, and are the Steelers actually real Super Bowl contenders?
Short answer to both questions: yes.
Despite being a decade removed from his Super Bowl winning season with the Seahawks, Russ still has enough athleticism left to facilitate a successful offense. His experience in the playoffs will also help him duel MVP-caliber opponents like Patrick Mahomes. Russ and the Steelers’ biggest advantage comes in the form of his team’s defensive line. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
Acing beyond conventional paths Jarrett Anderson (‘19) shines at Division I volleyball powerhouse
Going Division I. Millions of young athletes across America dream of these three words, pouring their bodies and minds into a single sport. Surrounded by the pressure of teammates, friends and even family reaching for a roster spot, many athletes feel that Division I success is a mandatory milestone of their sports journey.
Yet, Jarrett Anderson (‘19) tells a different story. After joining a travel volleyball team at Mountain View Volleyball Club his high school sophomore year, he caught the attention of Springfield College, a Division III volleyball program. Four years later, he transferred to Grand Canyon University, a Division I program, in 2023 and helped the team reach the NCAA Semifinals. Like countless others, Anderson had dreamed of such athletic success during his childhood, but he remained uncertain about which path would lead him there.
“If
you emphasize doing things over and over again,
you
can build great habits that develop you into the player
JARRETT ANDERSON (‘19) DIVISION I ATHLETE kairui sun
“I have two older siblings who also played collegiate sports,” Anderson said. “They were role models. I definitely wanted to go to Southern California and play DI. I had never even considered Springfield when they reached out to me — they were DIII, but I gave them a visit and ended up really enjoying the campus.
DESIGNBYTIFFANY
It was just a blessing in disguise.”
Although he started playing volleyball at a club later than his peers, Anderson attracted the attention of Springfield with his energy on the court complemented by his six-foot-five frame. A string of successes with both Harker’s
focused on the controllable aspects of his game, particularly his serve. His emphasis paid off: during his time at Springfield, Anderson accrued 250 aces, the highest in the nation.
varsity volleyball team and his club team also furthered his dedication to the sport.
“During my junior year we went to the CCS Finals and then NorCal Finals,” Anderson said. “Although we didn’t have the outcome we wanted, it still was a truly amazing experience and something that made me think, ‘Wow, I really do love this sport, and I really do want to keep pursuing volleyball.’”
Entering his first season for Springfield, Anderson remembers reeling from the higher level of play. Although he faced taller and more athletic opponents recruited from across the country, Anderson
“If you just emphasize doing things constantly over and over again, you can build great habits that develop you into the player that you want to be,” Anderson said. “When I was in high school, I dedicated a couple hours after school to practice and played a game twice a week. But in college, even in the offseason, four or five hours of my morning are just dedicated to volleyball.”
As Anderson returned to the court year after year, he watched the upperclassmen graduate and incoming freshmen join the team. Recognizing that he was a role model for many on the team, Anderson took on an increasingly proactive presence.
“My junior and senior year, I took a bigger role taking accountability and learning to push others the right way and do what I can to help everyone improve around me,” Anderson said. Visit harkeraquila. com for more. Jarrett Anderson (‘19) jumps to hit a volleyball while wearing his GCU jersey. Anderson joined the GCU team after playing at Springfield for four years.
Teammates for life: Forming lifelong bonds with memories
Picture two fourth graders goofing off before practice, laughing while their coach demonstrates a water polo drill. Or a pair of middle schoolers, playing on the school team for the first time, but returning to the same pool they’ve shared since they were seven. Now, as seniors in high school, they’ll compete together in their last season, creating their final memories of a decade of practices and games together.
We’re
all great friends and teammates on and off the field because we can understand each other.”
CYRUS GHANE (11)
VARSITY BOYS SOCCER
Seniors Summer Adler and Keren Eisenberg have played water polo together at San Jose Express for nine years and at Harker for seven. As both teammates and close friends, Summer and Keren can confide in one another and discuss their sport. Keren reflected
on how spending time with Summer has improved their dynamic.
“Being more experienced players on the team and forming that backbone of the team brought us closer as players,” Keren said. “We talk about water polo and discuss making the most successful season, and it’s always easy to talk.”
Another pair of lifelong teammates, juniors Cyrus Ghane and Krish Nachnani started playing soccer together eight years ago after joining the elementary
school team. Over the years, from casual fourth-grade recess soccer to competitive varsity games, the pair’s bond has grown stronger. Krish explained how their connection deepened as friends over quarantine.
“Before eighth grade, we were distant friends,” Krish said. “But over COVID, we talked about the European Championship, players we liked and how
caden ruan & cynthia xie
ALL SMILES Seniors Keren Eisenberg and Summer Adler smile together. They have played club and school water polo together for eleven years.
BEST BUDDIES Juniors Krish Nachnani and Cyrus Ghane pose for a photo on Davis Field. They have played soccer together since the lower school team. EYES UP
TIFFANY ZHU
PHOTOS BY ALISON YANG
PROVIDED BY JARRETT ANDERSON
DAY IN THE LIFE: THREE STUDENT-ATHLETES
CHRISTY MA (11)
Juggling academics and athletics proves challenging, but for figure skater and cheerleader Christy Ma (11), swimmer Eliana Chui (10) and golfer Justin Hu (9), it’s part of their daily routine. Beginning their rigorous training sessions before
their classmates have even woken up and squeezing in time to finish their homework between classes, these athletes dedicate themselves to achieving excellence both in the classroom and in their sports. Follow them through their action packed schedules, from pre-dawn practices to evening study sessions. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.
ELIANA CHUI (10)
SCORPION SOLO (LEFT) Figure skater Christy Ma (11) strikes the scorpion pose. She trains early in the mornings, which helps her feel refreshed for the rest of the day. SUNRISE SWIMMING (MIDDLE) Sophomore Eliana Chui takes a breath as she swims freestyle. She trains at 5:30 a.m. each weekday. Hu loads up his golf gear before the start of the school day. He prepares for another day of balancing his schoolwork and playing golf.
“To figure out a schedule, my family and I evaluated how much time I would need to spend on
and school. We then looked for ways for me to get homework done while doing two sports.”
“When I manage my time for training and academics I try to plan a week ahead. It’s important to stay focused, on-task and organized, so I can work efficiently with the little time I have.”
“Being a student-athlete means effectively using your time and always giving one-hundred percent effort. To excel at a sport, you have to sacrifice time and experiences your peers may not have to.”
(RIGHT) Eliana stretches in the training room. Because of her packed schedule, she has to take care of her muscles to be prepared for her next practice. STUDYING SIDEKICKS (MIDDLE)
and relieve stress. CALCULATING
SWINGING
(LEFT)
watches
on his practice. PUT YOUR ARMS UP (MIDDLE) Christy holds
Justin exits Nichols Hall with a classmate. Justin makes time to be with friends
(LEFT) Christy completes homework before afterschool cheer practice. Christy performs during football and basketball games.
Giving
Gratitude
samuel tong
From the moment you added me to that gaming voice call
four years ago, I knew we would forge a great friendship based on our matching humor and music tastes. Raging together over Geometry Dash levels and inciting chaos on Minecraft servers, we were inseparable during our middle school years, and our bond remains that way to this day. From starting online arguments to sending each other mythical Instagram reels, everything we have ever done together will stay with me forever. Your rambunctious attitude and passion for the tiny things in life have made me truly laugh for as long as I’ve known you. Thanks for always putting up with me.
To
To Mischa,
Sometimes I still wonder why you’d decide to be my best friend. You’re so smart, thoughtful, caring, you’re the popular one who everyone wants to hang out with. You’re an incredible friend and positive role model for everyone. All my fondest memories are with you: staying up until 3 in the morning, getting ice cream or boba, playing cards in the park, crying and laughing together. I can’t imagine my life without you. Thank you for always being there for me when I need it the most, thank you for being the person I can talk to about anything, and thank you for being the best best friend I could have ever asked for.
“You can have it!” you always utter, eagerly offering me something of yours to keep. I smile and brush off the gesture, but I never forget your acts of generosity and selflessness that always make me smile. From our long conversations over the phone, your homemade bowls of khao suey crafted with towering stacks of coconut milk cans, your honest advice about challenges and the way you call me “Meenu,” I appreciate the ways you make me feel special even among ten grandchildren. It still amazes me how a 71-yearold woman could relate so truly to her 16-year-old granddaughter. Your love is never overlooked or ignored. It’s a blessing to have your support in my life, Nano!
minal jalil leah krupnik
LOOSE LEAVES Sugar maple and dogwood leaves frame the borders of these gratitude letters. Winged Post Strategic members collected leaves of various shapes and sizes from multiple locations around campus, including the front of Shah and in the pathway next to the Nichols Rotunda.