Winged Post Volume 27, Issue 1

WINGED

POST

THE UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE HARKER SCHOOL

500 SARATOGA AVENUE, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95129

features

Meet your new staff joining for the 2025-26 school year

Labubu

11 opinions Editorial: Phone culture calls

15 sports

Catch a glimpse of coaching preparations for fall athletes

Choir students unite at annual retreat ashley mo

Downbeat, Capriccio and Festival Chorus members came together for the annual Choral Retreat hosted by vocal music teacher Jennifer Sandusky on Aug. 23 in Rothschild Performing Arts Center. Students practiced pieces like “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “The Harker School Song” and “Baba Yetu.” The retreat allowed upperclassmen to guide the younger singers and know them better through activities.

Orchestra mini-camp sets stage for concert season ashley mo

Students gathered for a one-day orchestra workshop to welcome new members and prepare for the upcoming concert season on Aug. 23 in instrumental music teacher Jaco Wong’s room. They played through Josef Strauss’ “Music of the Spheres Waltz, Op. 235” and later collaborated with the jazz band to rehearse George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and Justin Hurwitz’s music from “La La Land.” Students previewed repertoire, which included Missy Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres).”

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 29,

jonathan szeto & cynthia xie

Matriculation Day marked the return of students and staff to the upper school and the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year in the Zhang Gymnasium on Friday.

The ceremony, where student and administrative leaders welcome ninth graders to the upper school with speeches and video skits, began with frosh and their advisers processing. Head of School Brian Yager delivered opening remarks. He emphasized that the uniqueness of each student contributes to the student body as a whole, called on seniors to embrace their roles as mentors to younger students and thanked teachers for their efforts to

make students’ educational experiences meaningful.

“Each of you is unique, special and a work in progress,” Yager said. “Each of you shines your own light and emits your own color. Together, we create a palette of vibrant hues, like a magical mosaic of interconnected and shimmering tiles.”

Following Yager’s speech, Head of Upper School Paul Barsky urged students to embrace new opportunities and take risks while also resting and reflecting in his Matriculation Address. ASB President Luke Wu (12) then welcomed the Class of 2029, encouraging them to form connections and grow together as a class.

Honor Council member Linda Zeng (12), Student Diversity Coalition officer Elie

Ahluwalia (12) and ASB Vice President Amishi Gupta (12) each gave speeches highlighting integrity, kindness and personal accountability. Amishi then led students in the recitation of the Matriculation Oath.

BRIAN

“Matriculation is important to the frosh because it gives them their first impression of our school,” Luke said. “They need to hear from our student leaders

about our school values, which are important ideals for them to carry into the school year.”

Capriccio, led by vocal music teacher Jennifer Sandusky, and the Harker Chamber Orchestra, directed by instrumental music teacher Jaco Wong, performed between remarks. The classes’ leadership played videos they created to introduce ninth graders to their new campus.

Frosh Sarah Thiru appreciated the videos’ wellrounded picture of the school.

“Watching the videos, I could really visualize what I wanted to see myself doing in high school,” Sarah said. “It was a great way to embrace the new students, and I’m excited because now it feels like a new chapter, like I can start fresh and choose who I want to be.”

PHOTOS BY ASHLEY MO, JONATHAN SZETO AND CYNTHIA XIE

Sophomores, juniors bond at class trips

Students from the Class of 2027 and 2028 embarked on class trips to Angel Island and ropes courses in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Aug. 21 to open the new school year.

Juniors departed the upper school campus at 6:45 a.m. and headed to San Francisco Ferry Terminal, where they boarded a ferry to Angel Island. The class then divided into two cohorts of 12 advisories each and rotated through the activities.

The first cohort chose between hiking up Mount Livermore for views of the San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge or walking to Ayala Cove for kayaking and activities on the beach.

Junior Kai Nishimura particularly enjoyed the beach activities due to the variety of choices and opportunities for social interactions.

“

I had a really good time because we got to intermingle with other advisories and friends.

KAI NISHIMURA

JUNIOR TRIP ATTENDEE

“My favorite part of the Angel Island trip was when we had time on the beach, because we not only kayaked, but we

also were able to swim and play football and volleyball,” Kai said. “I had a really good time because we got to intermingle with other advisories and friends.”

The second cohort completed an advisory-based team photo scavenger hunt across Angel Island. Teams took photos in front of historical sites, posed for group shots and answered trivia questions about Harker history, fulfilling requirements through the GooseChase app.

Junior class adviser Pam Dickinson appreciated how riding the ferry also enhanced the bonding experience.

“Being on the beautiful ferry from San Francisco to Angel Island and back was an additional component to the things we actually did on the

island,” Dickinson said. “Riding away from the city and looking back at the San Francisco skyline — it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Sophomores traveled to three different ropes course venues in the Santa Cruz Mountains. At the sites, students participated in team-building exercises, including partner trust falls and tightrope walking as an advisory.

Sophomore Aashi Jain participated in the Synergy Learning Systems rope course, and she highlighted the giant ladder challenge, which featured steps that grew progressively farther apart at higher levels.

“First, I was in the belay team, and we had to be alert to quickly get into the break position to prevent our teammate

from falling,” Aashi said. “When I started climbing the ladder, I was scared, and I was ready to ask to be lowered down. But then my teammates encouraged me to continue going, and I was really happy that I did because we actually got pretty far along the ladder.”

Sophomore Miley Liu valued the time spent reconnecting with her advisory on the trip.

“Seeing everyone again was fun,” Miley said. “There was this one ropes course where everyone was falling toward the end, but it was funny because we were all just laughing together. The obstacles were all a good teamwork activity, especially getting to do them with our advisory.”

The obstacles were all a good teamwork activity, especially getting to do them with our advisory.

MILEY LIU

Junior class dean Brian Larsen coordinated with outdoor events company Absolute Adventures to plan the Angel Island trip, with the goal of building student relationships.

“The activities of doing the photo hunt and then spending some time in the water or going for a hike; it was a nice collection of things,” Larsen said. “More importantly than how well organized it was, the class seemed to really have fun today. I saw people and advisers bonding together, and the whole class thought it was a good time.”

Seniors reunite at retreat with workshops, advice panel

Class of 2026 attended the Senior Retreat, where they participated in teacher and alumni-led workshops and seminars to prepare for the upcoming year on Aug. 20.

Seniors listened to a panel of alumni from the Class of 2025 hosted by Director of Alumni Relations Caren Furtado. Maya

Affaki, Stephanie Bossalina, Steven Jiang and Arthur Wu advised seniors on how to handle the college application process and make the most out of their senior year, emphasizing tips like only worrying about aspects they can control.

Students then attended two sessions of teacherled workshops, like “Poetry Refresh” with English teacher Pauline Paskali to manage

stress or “Keeping the Balance” with Academic Counselor Kelly Leahy-McKeown to cultivate teamwork before a rigorous school year.

“Ms. Leahy-McKeown’s Blindfolded Jenga was a new team game that I hadn’t played before, so it fostered collaboration,” senior Umair Paranjpye said. “Working with others was my favorite part because everybody had different roles in the game.

For example, you had both some hecklers and some guides. I worked with people I’m not normally friends with, so it was a good experience.”

Administrative Assistant to the Upper Division Head Michelle Martinez planned the Senior Retreat and enjoyed seeing the students reunite.

“The best part of the day was when everyone was arriving, lining up for their t-shirts and catching up on what they’ve been doing over the summer,” Martinez said. “Senior Retreat is important because it gets you into your mindset of starting senior year and the overall importance of community before the real work starts.”

In Patil Theater, Head of Upper School Paul Barsky acknowledged the workload and stress of senior year and encouraged students to face new challenges with the saying “and that too.”

Senior Class Dean Meredith Cranston led students through an activity to create a personal mantra for fostering positivity and guidance in Nichols Auditorium. She emphasized visualizing success to keep

morale up through the stress of classes and college applications. After her speech, seniors were instructed to write letters about what they wish to accomplish in the year to their future selves.

“In Harker, self-deprecation is common, so we all really needed that speech,” senior Anna Wang said. “Reminding yourself to stay grounded and that you’re better is helpful when you’re really stressed. [Cranston] gave concrete examples of imagining the best version of yourself, which is a helpful strategy to not stress out when balancing everything that we have to do.”

To close off the day, students enjoyed a barbecue dinner and recessed to swim, play on the field or enjoy the bouncy castle on Davis Field.

“Any moment to relax and just do whatever is nice,” senior Simon Kirjner said. “The higher anxiety from colleges means that we need slime or sudoku or painting rocks to take unstructured time for ourselves. One main takeaway is to know when to relax, hang out with my friends and not worry about school for a bit.”

SPLASHING PADDLES Juniors Vova Shchegrov, Rithvik Navad, Ayden Grover and Pascal Qin laugh while kayaking in the Ayala Cove of Angel Island. Students participated in races off the coast, bonding with boatmates and competing with friends.

RAMBUNCTIOUS REUNION Seniors Anna Wang, Lindsay Li and Erika Wang share laughter prior to the alumni panel. Senior Retreat marked the first time the class reunited for the upcoming school year.

tiffany zhu & nathan yee

samuel tong & jasmine hansra

SOPHOMORE TRIP ATTENDEE

Trump reshapes college admissions

President Donald Tump signed an executive order on Aug. 7 mandating that colleges submit admissions data to prove they do not consider race, his latest move that reshapes college admissions decisions and leaves students facing a process defined by political uncertainty.

This order builds on Trump’s earlier moves, including anti-DEI policies and a highprofile pause on federal grants and loans to colleges, a blow that many elite institutions like Harvard, Duke or Columbia felt. Additionally, the administration suspended enrollment of international students at Harvard in another executive order, citing national security and the U.S. Supreme Court’s

ruling against DEI efforts as reasons for this suspension.

Trump has already revoked visas for 6,000 foreign students since the start of his second administration, discouraging many from enrolling in U.S. institutions. As high school seniors at Harker, some of whom are international students, prepare their college applications, many are reflecting on Trump’s decision to limit the number of international students entering American colleges.

“It’s a shame that students from other countries are going to have a harder time in order to learn from the American higher education system,” an anonymous senior said. “His limitation obviously targets students from more wealthy countries like China or Britain, but it also restricts people from

countries with less developed higher education institutes from accessing a good education.”

“

How we approach education doesn’t necessarily change when the policies do.

KELLY HORAN

ASSISTANT UPPER SCHOOL DIVISION HEAD

The cumulative effect of funding cuts, shifting visa policies and confusion surrounding financial aid has created an environment where students must prepare for

unpredictability at every turn.

Assistant Upper School Division Head Kelly Horan commented on how Harker’s policies should not change.

“Our philosophy on education is timeless,” Horan said. “How we approach education and how we approach what we want for you all at the next level doesn’t necessarily change when the policies do.”

In a time of political volatility, the ways in which colleges choose to respond to federal mandates has become a test of their identity and values. Harvard, for instance, is challenging Trump’s restrictions through legal action, while Columbia has faced criticism for wavering in its stance and adjusting policies to match shifting political pressures.

Visit harkeraquila.com for more.

Graduating class welcomes new dawn with Senior Sunrise

eva cheng & katie

Students from Class of 2026 gathered on the field at 6 a.m. on Monday for the annual Senior Sunrise celebration.

As the first students back on campus, the graduating class cozied up with blankets, hot chocolate and donuts to watch the sunrise before the first day of school.

“The sunrise is the start of the year, which I think is super cool, because at the end we have the baccalaureate, which is our senior sunset,” senior student council representative Nikhil Sharma said. “To me it’s just coming together as a class before school starts and celebrating the fact that we survived three years of high school.”

Before the event, the class council worked on promotional campaigns on social media, creating handmade photo frames for their classmates to take photos with and encouraging students to show up to campus early in the morning.

“It’s one of those wonderful traditions where there’s no big event plan,” Class of 2026 Dean Meredith Cranston said. “It’s just a time to get together, enjoy one another’s company and set the tone for the kind of community spirit that we want to see this year as our last year.”

Campus renovations over summer improve facilities

Administration facilitated a number of renovations at the upper school campus, with improvements like new benches, speed bumps, lights and flooring in the Auxiliary Gym, greenery in the quad and updates to the Shah patio over the summer.

Operations Manager Sarah Wollbrink worked with Head of Upper School Paul Barsky to provide around

a dozen wooden benches around campus, built using the excess wood from Shah Patio renovations.

“With the Shah deck, we had some extra wood left over, so we built some new benches that are in the orchard to expand seating,” Wollbrinck said. “[The renovations] like the grass and the Quad and the benches, it’s just gonna encourage people to hang out a little bit more and appreciate the grounds here.”

In the parking lot, safety concerns about speeding in the area prompted the construction of new speed bumps. The electric vehicle chargers also underwent significant upgrades.

Wollbrinck shared that the facilities team annually seeks out areas of campus that can be improved.

“Every fall we have a beautification walk, and we point out things that could be updated or improved upon,” Wollbrinck said. “We build a list that we can start in the summer, as when the students aren’t around, there’s a little less impact than during the school year.”

Head of School Brian Yager notes the implicit message demonstrates that the school takes care of the campus.

“The physical changes reflect safety and healthy natures, but it also improves look, feel and usefulness, too” Yager said. “The benches might not be themselves pretty, but

they’re useful, and they provide space for people, like Mr. Barsky said, to reflect.”

Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Joe Rosenthal highlighted that students play a part in deciding what gets improved upon within the campus.

“We’re always interested in feedback,” Rosenthal said. “As a matter of fact, a lot of what we did was based on the student survey that was taken in the middle of the year last year, and one of the major points of the student survey was more comfortable seating.”

Junior Ava Alvarez reflects on her thoughts regarding the new furnishing.

“I like that there’s more options for seating,” Ava said. “It makes our campus more beautiful and more calming, almost a break from school.”

The renovations are part of an ongoing effort to improve the school environment through a strategic plan renewed every five years.

SLOW DOWN New speed bumps and crosswalks mark the loading zones. They were installed as part of the safety initative.

“We want to make our environment as inspiring and the student experience as enjoyable as possible,” Rosenthal said.

“Having extra spaces for you to sit down and collaborate enhances the experience.”

2023

EMMA LEE, PHOTO SOURCE: ALAMY

SCHOOLS UNDER SCRUTINY President Donald Trump pushes colleges towards race-neutral admissions. “It’s a shame that students from other countries are going to have a harder time in order to learn from the American higher education system,” an anonymous senior said.

BENCH BUDDIES Seniors Eva Cheng and Lily Shi sit on a new bench. The seats are located in the quad, orchard and Rothschild commons.

KAIRUI SUN

SMILE BRIGHT Seniors Sophia Bagley and Judi Abdelrazik pose with a handcrafted frame.

tcheng

elizabeth zhang

vivek moorjani

Fresh faces, new voices

Eleven new faculty members share passions and aspirations for 2025-26 school year

sam li, eva cheng, mendy mao & claire tian

MESI ERDOS MATHEMATICS

“I was always interested in math. I definitely loved working on anything that has to do with it.”

HOBBY: Competitive club tennis

SAM LEDERER

PHYSICS AND RESEARCH

“I’m excited that there’s clearly a great deal of enthusiasm for science and for physics in particular.”

FUN FACT: “Top Gun” sparked his interest in physics

YUMIKO MUNEISHI JAPANESE

“We have a traditional culture and a colorful pop culture. There’s so many entry points for people to get in.”

FUN FACT: Hosts a travel club

HYERYOUNG RHEE HISTORY

“I love seeing that spark in students’ eyes when they learn something they find interesting.”

FAVORITE MOVIE: Spirited Away

TERESE NAVARRA BIOLOGY AND RESEARCH

“I’m excited to hopefully spark the love for STEM that I found when I was in high school.”

FUN FACT: Has one dog and three cats

AHMED ELGASSEIR STUDY OF MUSIC

“I am really excited to be on campus again. The students just have great energy when you come into a class with music.”

HOBBY: Taking trips with his daughters

PRIYANKA BISWAS ENGLISH AND HISTORY

“These are the two subjects that you always correlate, and students love to hear anecdotes about writers.”

FAVORITE FOOD: Anything her mom makes

ANNA MICHELE SPANISH

“I enjoy getting to know the students and seeing how they are speaking and conversing in Spanish.”

FAVORITE MUSICAL: In the Heights

MANAR DUAIBES CHEMISTRY

JANE PROSZEK GORNINSKI CHEMISTRY

“I love chemistry because it is absolutely everywhere — in clothes, in makeup, in your food.”

HOBBIES: Yoga and Pilates

“My favorite part is the experiments, because I know that students like to work with their hands.”

FAVORITE BOOK: The 5AM Club

STEPHEN BAXTER JOURNALISM

“There’s so much power in stripping down your writing and thinking about it in a critical way.”

HOBBIES: Water sports, surfing

Volunteer award pause prompts reflection

Demi Zheng (11) eagerly clicked into the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) application, already imagining the gold medal and certificate she would receive in the mail after logging over 100 hours of community service over the past year. Then, she read: “This form is no longer accepting submissions.” Her heart sank.

On May 27, the federal agency Americorps declared a temporary pause on applications and orders for the PVSA award through a post on their website. PVSA-certified organizations were not notified prior to the public post, and the announcement provided no explanation for the hiatus. However, the pause coincided with Americorps facing nearly $400 million in budget cuts and significant staffing reductions.

“When I first found out that PVSA was removed, I was extremely enraged,” Demi said. “I thought, ‘Is this the government’s way of telling us volunteering isn’t important?’ Removing it may cause people to have less of an incentive to volunteer, and that’s really bad.”

Former President George W. Bush initiated the PVSA in 2003 with the goal of honoring individuals who displayed a consistent passion for volunteering. Award recipients must complete a certain number of hours according to their age group over the course of a year. They received PVSA Bronze, Silver or Gold medals depending on the hours of community service they completed.

Junior Pascal Qin pointed out that without a tangible reward, students may lose the drive to devote their time to community service. As a result, nonprofit organizations would

struggle to recruit volunteers and expand their reach.

“Doing something that’s not for yourself is quite hard for a lot of people to wrap their heads around,” Pascal said. “PVSA was a good way to get a lot of people to feel that joy of giving back to your community. Now that those hours aren’t a thing anymore, it’s just not good for the community.”

In order to fulfill their graduation requirement, Harker students must complete at least 30 hours of community service, 10 each year from ninth to eleventh grade. Director of Upper School Community Service and Student Activities Kerry Enzensperger is making plans to implement a community service award system at Harker to encourage students to

continue community service outside of school requirements.

“It was nice getting that acknowledgement, but at the same time, it was never an expectation for me.

TANVI

SIVAKUMAR (12) PVSA GOLD RECIPIENT

”“We could have different levels and copy PVSA, but it would be Harker’s name,” Enzensperger said. “Our school would do this award system

because PVSA is on hold, but we still want to recognize our students for their outstanding service to the community.”

Senior Tanvi Sivakumar earned PVSA Gold four years in a row, completing 100 or more service hours annually. She viewed volunteering not as a path to recognition but as an outlet for her passion.

“It was nice getting that acknowledgement, but at the same time, it was never an expectation for me,” Tanvi said. “I had already been volunteering for years before I even knew the hours counted.”

However, schools and organizations can only do so much to encourage students to volunteer. Pascal believes that in the end, individuals must find meaning in their own work and

pursue service for reasons that go beyond recognition.

“Volunteering certainly isn’t for everyone, and not everyone’s going to love it, but everyone should give volunteering a try,” Pascal said. “When you give back to your community and you see how happy you can make other people, a lot of people will realize that volunteering isn’t just something you do for medals. It’s a very healthy and self-fulfilling process.”

While the pause on PVSA may discourage some students from engaging in service, it can also encourage them to explore unconventional volunteering opportunities. Enzensperger noted that meaningful volunteering does not have to follow a standard path and fit common expectations.

Political bias in media, advertising raises concern

Clothing brand American Eagle released an ad on July 23 where actress Sydney Sweeney crossed out the word “genes” in a billboard saying “Sydney Sweeney has great genes” and replaced it with “jeans.”

Many progressive internet users felt that this ad could be a dog whistle for white supremacist ideology. This belief stemmed from the emphasis on genetics as well as Sweeney’s resemblance to an Aryan ideal of beauty with her blond hair and blue eyes. Conversely, other netizens supported the ad campaign and opposed critics, leading to an increase in American Eagle’s social media following and stock price.

“The marketing perspective is that it doesn’t actually matter if they agree with what is being said — all that is important is it creates an emotional response,”

DEI director Patricia Burrows said. “They want to create the

largest emotional response regardless of the impact it has on society. That’s really dangerous; not so much the actual marketing message, but the why behind it.”

Brands like American Eagle could be inciting rage to spark engagement and drive consumers to their products. This tactic, called “outrage farming,” aims to deliberately provoke an audience reaction to increase social media traffic.

The American Eagle campaign taps into a trend where brands blur the lines between product and political discourse. With the rise of social media, brands and political campaigns understand that emotional headlines and provocative imagery capture attention more effectively than thoughtful arguments, as algorithms favor content that generates high levels of user interaction regardless of whether the sentiment is positive or negative.

“In the past decade, we’ve seen a shift towards getting more

information through social media than traditional news sources,” junior Siddhartha Daswani said. “Before, people would turn to publications like The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times,

but now, social media is a dominant source, and that’s led to more attentiongrabbing content.”

Because algorithms make outrage profitable, subtle political messages spread across

social media. Senior Joy Hu often sees these messages on her feed.

“The reason why social media political messaging is powerful is because a lot of the time it’s less overt,” Joy said.

Visit harkeraquila.com for more.

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM An American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney sparked controversy about political bias in advertising. Some brands aim to stir strong reactions rather than convey a clear message.

risa chokhawala & chelsea xie

suhani gupta & janam chahal

SHATTERING NEWS Americorps pauses President’s Volunteer Service Award, altering incentives for students to volunteer. “When I first found out that PVSA was removed, I was extremely enraged,” junior and prospective PVSA applicant Demi Zheng said.

Pop Mart encourages consumerism through media trends and cute designs

Collectables company

Pop Mart’s endearing products push teenagers and adults to spend thousands on everything from miniature figurines to phone cases. Between resellers and passionate fans, consumerism has surged as another trend.

The most well-known of these creations is the Labubu, a rabbit-like creature with a toothy grin. Though the internet is divided over whether the Labubu’s quirky, cute appeal wins out over its unnerving appearance, celebrities and civilians alike have purchased the toys and other Pop Mart products featuring a colorful, unique cast.

Because people often derive happiness from spending, not obtaining a limited item can cause fear of missing out. Senior Helen Gu points out that buying the trendiest item often serves as an entrance ticket into social groups in person and online.

“It’s more similar to purchasing a feeling,” Helen said. “When you buy something that everyone else has, you immediately become part of that group, and it’s a replacement for social interaction.”

Pop Mart’s market value, at $34 billion, has exceeded that of longstanding toy brands like Mattel and Sanrio. Though no single reason led to this boom, resellers, who buy massive amounts of merchandise to sell on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, may contribute to its success.

Social media also accelerates consumption. Pop

Mart experienced a surge in popularity after Lisa from BLACKPINK appeared in public with a Labubu attached

“When you buy something that everyone else has, you immediately become part of that group.

HELEN GU (12) POP MART CRITIC

to her bag, leading to hordes of fans and collectors immediately buying out stores.

Often, people want to grow up faster when they are children, but find themselves missing the freedom and joy of childhood as adults. Helen connects this phenomenon to the rising popularity of Labubus among adults.

“I’ve noticed people are losing their childhoods earlier, and that there’s a pressure to grow up earlier,” Helen said. “They’re missing the whimsy that they could have had as kids, which is why they’re turning to toys and collectibles.”

Though Pop Mart’s target audience mainly encompasses teens and young adults, Harker parent Grace Wen enjoys collecting their items as well. Her enjoyment of Pop Mart ultimately stems from an emotional attachment to the characters, not a desire to resell the items or to join a particular trend.

“At heart, we’re all children. We can find the same kind of joy in these figures,” Wen said. “When I take my figures and plushes out of their boxes and look over them, it fills me with a sense of happiness.”

HEYTEA evokes summertime with fresh, unique flavors

HEYTEA provides instant relief on a hot summer day, the cool air flowing through the cafe acting as a refreshing change from the heat outside. Sunlight streams through floor-to-ceiling windows and onto wooden benches, while artificial trees add a touch of greenery. HEYTEA originated in mainland China and garnered international popularity for its high-quality ingredients

and visually appealing drinks, recently adding its newest branch in Cupertino.

A tangy blend of yumberry purée and jasmine green tea slush, Yumberry Boom featured the yumberry, a tart fruit native to China. Altogether, the refreshing beverage had an unusual herbal aftertaste similar to cranberries. The crushed yumberries in the purée were reminiscent of flower petals, an unexpected and rather offputting texture. Anyone looking

for new and exotic flavors should give this drink a try, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

With rich flavor and a silky consistency, Supreme Brown Sugar Bobo Milk Tea tasted overly sweet at first, but the salty cheese foam on top balanced it perfectly. With the perfect amount of bounciness and chewiness, the brown sugar pearls added a warm, caramel-like sweetness that contrasted beautifully with the cold milk. This flavorful upgrade of a simple classic will appeal to those who prefer a heartier drink over lighter fruit teas.

Cloud Coconut Blue was enticing from its appearance alone, with an ombre effect created by the matcha cheese foam, coconut milk and blue spirulina powder. Since each layer had differences in flavor and texture, combining the matcha and coconut flavor in one sip was difficult. The cheese foam left a slightly earthy, bitter aftertaste,

balanced by the light coconut jelly. Overall, this drink’s mix of flavors and textures makes it a must-try for coconut and matcha lovers.

Grapefruit Boom’s base was made up of a refreshing jasmine tea, followed by a tangy layer of grapefruit pulp and topped

slush. The coral pink of the pulp and creamy white of the foam created a summery drink that looked and tasted delicious. After mixing all three layers, the light foam balanced out the strong herbal flavor of the tea. We recommend Grapefruit Boom to those who enjoy citrus fruits and sour flavors.

Mango Coconut Boom, a HEYTEA fan-favorite, blends coconut milk, mango purée and green tea slush, creating a beautiful marbled drink that is as flavorful as it looks. With each sip, chewy sago and clear jelly added a satisfying texture, blending into a light and creamy drink. This drink is a great option for anyone craving tropical flavors and chewy toppings all in one drink.

Overall, HEYTEA provides drinks that are as delicious as they are Pinterest-worthy. HEYTEA charges around $7$8 per drink, slightly pricier than typical boba chains, but its fresh ingredients, generous toppings and eye-catching presentation make it worth the extra $1-2.

Visit harkeraquila.com for more.

Pop Mart’s revenue rose to $1.9 billion in 2024, thanks to the popularity of the Labubu toy in the “Monsters” line.

MEET YOUR MATCH-A An employee at HEYTEA wipes down a matcha drink with a cloth. HEYTEA Cupertino opened on Aug. 1.

lily peng, chelsea xie & cynthia xie

So you wanna be a...

Zane Sharif uplifts with every cut

Zane Sharif unzips the blue tent and steps inside the barbershop set up in his backyard. A ring light sits in one corner, a mirror and a cabinet of various tools in another and a salon chair in the center. The setup is new, but this hobby turned part-time job originated long before it.

Sharif gave his first haircut to a friend while watching a video tutorial two years ago. Since then, he continues to give haircuts in his spare time.

While learning how to become a better barber, Sharif picked up on pointers from his barber, gained new insights from his close friends and clients and watched videos for inspiration. Starting off small with a few friends, his customer base gradually grew as his clients spread the word about his haircuts.

“I rely on my clients going out in public and people asking, ‘Where did you get that haircut?’” Sharif said. “Most of my clientele is from Santa Clara, and it all started from Alex Burnside. He went to practice with a haircut, and now I get more people from Santa Clara Swim Club.”

Over the course of many haircuts, Sharif came to appreciate each tool for its own purpose and flair.

“My favorite piece of equipment is my trimmers because I like lining up,” Sharif said. “Doing lineups make the haircut pop. If you have strands of hair that come out over the

ear, I would line up that part to create contrast between the fade and where the skin is. That way, it makes the haircut stand out.”

In the process of constantly learning and improving, barbering has evolved into more than just a job to Sharif. He views the craft as a form of selfexpression on both his and his customers’ end.

“You imagine your client as a canvas, and you’re almost painting,” Sharif said. “You’re creating layers, lines and shapes.

CAUTIOUS CUTS (TOP) Barber Zane Sharif carefully trims his customer’s hair. DETAILED PRECISION (MIDDLE) Sharif touches up the sides, keeping the cut fresh. CLEAN UP (BOTTOM) Sharif adds the finishing touches to his client’s haircut with a razor and a guard.

“I want my clients to leave the barbershop with confidence. If they feel confident after the haircut, then I’ve done my job.

”

So, in a sense, it is almost the same thing as art.”

Reaching a point where he could cut hair comfortably and confidently took trial and error. Through this progress, Sharif figured out what tools he needed to successfully execute certain hairstyles and cutting techniques.

“I went through various stages of trying to figure out how to set my guidelines and how to approach my haircuts,” Sharif said. “I figured out that

I need to get this specific guard for a more precise fade.”

At the end of each haircut session, Sharif measures his success in more than just straight lineups and clean fades. What he aspires for the most is to boost his customers’ morale.

“I want them to leave the barbershop with confidence,” Sharif said. “You want a haircut to look better. If they feel confident after the haircut, then I’ve done my job.”

Dance teams leap into year with annual camp

Harker Dance Company and Kinetic Krew kicked off the year with new choreography and team bonding during a camp led by United Spirit Association on campus from Aug. 13 to 15.

HDC learned jazz routines to “See Me Now,” “Mantra” and “Rumor Has It” while KK danced

to “Start a Riot,” “Make It Rain” and “Disco Inferno” with three hip-hop choreographies.

Dancers closed off the camp by showcasing their routines in the Patil theater on Friday.

“

It was a ton of fun meeting all the new people because each team brings its own vibe.

NIKHIL

SHARMA (12) KINETIC KREW CAPTAIN

First-year KK member

Emma Zhou (10) pointed out the rhythm and details in the “Start a Riot” choreography. “That [dance] is a lot of really high energy,” Emma said.

“There’s a bit of flailing around, like you’re going crazy, but that’s part of what makes it really fun.

Our teacher put a lot of thought

into the nuances of what moves on what sound in the music, like the snares or snaps.”

Dancers also engaged in team bonding activities like Hit the Deck and Ships and Sailors. KK captain Nikhil Sharma (12) highlighted these moments spent raising spirits and hyping each other up.

“This is the first time this team has met,” Nikhil said. “It

Experiencing live music: concerts versus festivals

samaara patil

Some people wait years for the chance to see artists perform live, while others go to live performances every month. Most people see their favorite artists at either a music festival or a concert.

Junior Urvi Singhvi reflected on experiencing live music from her favorite artists for the first time compared to streaming their music.

“There’s a special energy that gets created when you put fans and artists in the same space,” junior Urvi Singhvi said. “I really like the format of the music festival because you can see so many artists and also discover artists that you may not have known.”

The major difference between concerts and music festivals is price. Taylor Swift released tickets for the Eras Tour with a face value between $49 and $499. However, the average price fans paid was $1,088.56, driven up by resellers taking advantage of the high demand for concert tickets.

Bored Yet?”

Tickets for music festivals are usually purchased at face value as reselling festival tickets is less common. Outside Lands tickets cost $275 a day, Lollapalooza tickets are roughly $150 and major festivals like Coachella cost $550 to $600 for all three days.

These festivals have over 110 artists performing, making the average price per artist substantially cheaper than individual concert tickets.

Music festivals range in schedule, but popular festivals like Lollapalooza and Outside Lands run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Instead of waiting for artists to begin the show, the festival environment begins at the entrance.

was a ton of fun meeting all the new people and finding this new energy, because each team brings its own vibe.”

Reflecting on the three days of camp, HDC co-director Jill Yager commended the dancers for their positivity and effort throughout the camp.

“It’s gonna be hard, it’s gonna be challenging, but that’s where they thrive,” Yager said.

Venues with different stages are usually a five to 10-minute walk apart. As festival-goers walk from stage to stage, pathways are lined with food stalls, company sponsored tables and photo booths.

“It’s not so much about listening to the artist live, but being able to see them live,” Brooke Kubose (12) said. “I like the experience of hanging out with my friends, getting ready together and taking pictures.”

heather wang & wenjie zou

heather wang

SINGING SENSATION The band Wallows performs at Outside Lands. Fans crowded the stage as they played “Are You

JAZZ AND SASS Junior Hannah Jiang performs onstage during the end-of-camp showcase. Each team learned four routines total.

HITTING THE BEAT Sophomore Kayvion Cruz dances dynamically while rehearsing a routine.

Over the summer,

36 U.S.states outof 50

54 countries worldwide

Travel tales: Broadening our worldview

In Taiwan, I gained a deeper understanding of another culture that I wouldn’t have gotten at a U.S. internship.

6 continents out of seven

IOWA CITY

Cornfields and Caitlin Clark — that was all I knew about Iowa as I stepped off the plane and found myself face-to-face with the thick, humid heat of Iowa City. I came for a two-week writing camp, expecting nothing but quiet workshopping and in-depth reading. Instead, my days brimmed with the chaos and messiness of true artistry, which I’d soon learn to embrace: late-night poem revisions sprawled floors, afternoons spent in cafes chatting about silly ideas, long walks with friends that made me forget my fears.

In the evenings, I wandered a few steps off campus to the Iowa River, letting the current carry away the noise of the day. With the wind threading through my hair, I took time to ponder — about life, about myself, about who I had become in the last 17 years. I rose from the riverbank feeling lighter, a steadier version of myself. Somewhere in those moments, Iowa became more than just a place on a map. My time there became a chapter of my life I will always return to in memory, one I will always hold close to my chest.

CHINA

In rural Shangqiu, China, the humid air in my grandfather’s courtyard carried the scent of soaked bamboo leaves and glutinous rice. Dozens of my relatives had already claimed their spots on handcrafted stools, chatting and laughing as they crafted zongzi. This zongzimaking process was beautifully chaotic: one relative held a leaf while another added rice, and hands reached across the table to help tie the dish together. As I sat watching the cooking unfold, I understood that zongzi was

I stepped off the plane at 11 p.m. at Anchorage International Airport and watched the sun set on the horizon. Giant snowcapped mountains framed the cloudless sky on all sides, standing tall and white adjacent to Alaska’s most populous city in the middle of June. Camera in hand, I took in this wondrous, seemingly impossible place alpine air, both apprehensive and excited for this new adventure.

Six months ago, my little brother had chosen Alaska on a whim for his fifth-grade state report, and although he had raved about the state’s beautiful nature and unique activities, I still thought of it as a barren, wild landscape, inhospitable and unwelcoming. Yet through our one-week trip in the state, I began to see the beauty in each place Mount Denali from high above on a tiny aircraft to witnessing a breaching orca on an exhilarating cruise. Being surrounded by nature opened my eyes to the beauty of each moment. I made sure that my camera was with me every second, and each time I held it, my eyes searched intently for beautiful yet unassuming moments to capture, creating a story out of dappled leaves or smoke billows. By the end of my trip, I had amassed 2,000 photos, and a

tiffany zhu

cynthia xie

Commuters

vs.

Apeaceful, empty room greets me as I wake up in my own comfortable bed. Soft sunlight filters through my window as I step into my airy kitchen, where breakfast is exactly as I like it: crisp toast, my favorite brand of yogurt, fresh fruit I picked out myself at the grocery store. Outside, the morning air is refreshing and quiet, and my fifteen-minute walk to the lab feels more like a tranquil transition than a chore.

This was my daily morning routine in Boston this summer, built around the simple pleasure of living in my own apartment and commuting to work every day.

Living off campus offers something more valuable than a walk to work: the comforts of private home ownership. I had my own kitchen, dining table, bed, and, most importantly, bathroom. No unfamiliar hair clogging the drain, no needing to ferry towels and toiletries back and forth like a nomad.

I could cook whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, tailoring each meal exactly to my taste. There’s no shuffling through a dining-hall line, no large trays of lukewarm eggs or communal toasters with mysterious stains. Additionally, unlike some dorm arrangements

that impose campus boundaries or curfews, I could step onto the subway or wander the city with freedom, visiting my favorite cafés at any hour without dealing with the hassle of signing out or asking permission.

Then there’s the roommate gamble. Living with someone can lead to a lifelong friendship, but only if you like them. If you’re unlucky, you’re stuck together for the entire summer, with no escape from constant irritation

“

I could step on the subway or wander the city with freedom, visiting my favorite cafes at any hour. ”

or awkward negotiations over thermostat settings and wakeup times. Commuting allows you to bypass the gamble entirely, ensuring a drama-free summer.

Even with a compatible roommate, sharing a small space limits your freedom. In my apartment, I could be both an early riser and stay up late, whereas in a dorm I would be spending the summer tiptoeing around someone else’s sleep schedule. I could set my own schedule, waking up for a latenight snack or an early-morning

Sunday afternoon. As my parents drive up to the entrance of the Willard dorm hall at Northwestern, we pass by welcome signs and residential assistants (RAs). Inside, an RA leads us to the elevator, and we head up four floors.

I unlock the dorm room with a scan of my keycard and spot a bed beside a desk on each side of the room. Within minutes, I open up my suitcase, fill my closet space with clothes and line up stationary on my desk. As I finish unpacking, I hear chatter from the hallway. My roommate walks in, and we introduce ourselves.

Living in a dorm opens up the opportunity to meet new people and make friends easily. Rooming with someone in the same college-credit course helped me adjust to the unfamiliar environment. Seeing her everyday also initiated conversation instead of the limited interaction with only classmates if commuting.

In the kitchen and communal restroom, I was also able to talk more with newfound friends. We all lived on the same floor, so we saw each other often and were able to form a deeper connection.

Rooming away from home also allowed me to learn

independence-based skills. Usually, I would rely on my parents to cook, but in the dorm, my roommate and I would prepare meals or, using Doordash, have some delivered to our building.

“

Rooming with someone my age at camp helped me adjust to the new environment.

We learned how to make smart decisions about spending money and go out wherever we wanted as long as we signed out. During the program, my friends and I also had the chance to go into the city, learning how to take the subway in the process.

One of the special things about dorming on campus is the feeling of home after being there for a few weeks. We discussed our lives at school and ranted about the work each of us had, which helped foster warm feelings of connection between us. Knowing that we had similar problems to converse made us all more alike than before. Now back in California, I deeply miss the friends I made in the dorms.

Friday Five: Top movies released in summer of 2025

With students on break and families on vacation, summer always brings a roster of movies to enjoy in the free time. However, compared to previous years, this past summer brought a wide variety of the most anticipated, enjoyable and

movie series, this movie was lackluster. While there was plenty of action, as any Tom Cruise movie would have, the

plot felt reused and had too many flashbacks of the earlier movies. The movie felt dragged out with a runtime of a whopping three hours. If it were not for the action scenes, I probably would have fallen asleep halfway through the movie. Of course, the cinematography, sound and visuals were terrific, but the movie relied on the previous films in the series and did not contain an original storyline.

4. KPop Demon Hunters Going into this movie, I had mixed feelings. The movie had a booming popularity, but in the end, it was made for a younger audience. It followed a classic plot of

good versus evil, with a sudden plot twist revealing that it was not as black and white as first expected. However, aside from a childish plot, the movie was quite enjoyable with crisp animation and a lineup of songs that I still cannot get out of my head.

3. The Fantastic Four: First Steps This movie drops you straight into the action, without much time to process the backstory of the characters. The heroes are immediately faced with a threat larger than they can handle, not having clear explanations of their powers. While the beginning of the movie felt rushed, the climax of the movie was well-crafted, and the

political themes were a decent addition. The action sequences and visual effects were powerfully made. A problem with this movie is that with the rushed start, I could not properly relate to the characters and many emotional scenes lost their value.

2. How to Train Your Dragon

When I saw the trailer for this movie, I thought, ‘Why was Dreamworks making a liveaction film from an already perfect and completed trilogy?’ However, after watching tit, I believe that the “How To Train Your Dragon” movie is possibly the greatest live action remake that has been made. The cast

did an amazing job, and many emotional scenes did well to capture the feelings of the animated film.

1. Superman James Gunn’s “Superman” does not waste time with an already well known origin story, but still gives us plenty of time to understand each and every character, as well as their dynamics. Compared to previous iterations, this Superman is more vulnerable and emotionally intelligent. Throughout the movie, he learns to stand for his values and what it means to protect the people of Earth, and the story arc is fabulously written. This movie felt true to the comics, which makes me excited for the movies to come.

connie xu

ram batchu

lily shi

Editors-in-Chief

Ashley Mo Tiffany Zhu

Managing Editors

Jonathan Szeto Emma Li

News Editors

Samuel Tong Nathan Yee

Opinions Editors

Elizabeth Zhang Risa Chokhawala

Features Editors

Leah Krupnik Sam Li

A&E/Lifestyle Editors

Cynthia Xie Chelsea Xie

Claire Tian STEM Editors Caden Ruan

Sports Editors

Wenjie Zou Lily Peng

Copy Editor William Jiang

Photo Editors Lily Peng

Cynthia Xie

Multimedia Editor Lindsay Li

Adviser Whitney Huang, CJE

Aquila Editors-in-Chief Lily Shi Eva Cheng

Aquila Managing Editors

Suhani Gupta

Janam Chahal

Mihir Kotbagi

Charlie Wang Kairui Sun

Humans of Harker Editors-in-Chief

Ella Guo

Disha Gupta

Humans of Harker Managing Editors

Mendy Mao Vivek Moorjani

Heather Wang Victoria Li

Reporters

Hannah Jeon

Katie Tcheng

Jasmine Hansra

Emma Lee

Alvira Agarwal

Ram Batchu

Connie Xu

Samaara Pati

Sarah Wang

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: 2019-20, 2017-18

NSPA Pacemaker Finalist: 2024-25, 2023-24, 2020-21,2018-19, 2016-17

CSPA Gold Crowns: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2019, 2018, 2016

CSPA Silver Crowns: 2022, 2021, 2017

Editorial: Phone culture calls for shared effort

EDITORIAL: THE OFFICIAL OPINION OFTHE WINGED POST

Nearby Bay Area school districts including San Jose Unified and San Ramon Valley Unified began enforcing stricter cellphone bans this fall. These sweeping bans reflect a growing trend of limiting technology usage across California high schools. In San Jose Unified, students must keep their phones out of reach for the entire school day. San Ramon Valley Unified restricted phone use to only during passing periods and breaks.

Reducing phone use during lessons could help students focus and engage more with the material. Especially at Harker, where demanding coursework and extracurricular commitments often force students to multitask between assignments, limits on phone usage bring important benefits to high schoolers.

During the school day, many students use their phones to access social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, a habit that has a strong correlation with higher levels of stress and anxiety and discourages faceto-face interaction. Partially restricting phone use would cut down on this distraction, helping students manage stress productively and foster healthier social interactions on campus.

The benefits of limiting phone use are well documented. A study conducted in 2016 with English secondary schools found that low-achieving students improved their test scores by 6.41% after bans were put in place. A year later, a University of Chicago study suggested that even the mere presence of a cellphone nearby reduced students’ cognitive abilities.

These outcomes make it clear why many districts have chosen to restrict phones entirely, but what

works at other schools near us may not necessarily work at Harker. Phones are an integral part of daily life, serving as tools for staying connected with our peers, parents and broader school community.

Student-run organizations like Harker Journalism, Robotics and DECA depend on phonebased messaging applications throughout the school day to coordinate the large-scale projects they must execute. Our weekly school meetings often include QR codes that students need to scan using their phones.

When the districts near us move toward phone restrictions, the expectations and norms surrounding student phone use in our area begin to change. As more local schools adopt strict limits, our community will inevitably face the question of whether to follow their lead or take a different approach.

With so many aspects of student life tied to mobile

Every new year is like standing in an empty garden, a space full of possibility. There’s excitement for what might bloom, a touch of nostalgia for what has passed and fear for what will take root. Starting this year anew, we have the chance to plant important seeds in our lives, seeds that will eventually blossom into something meaningful and lasting. There exist different types of seeds, some of which are personal. Whether it’s nurturing habits of productivity or learning how to balance

schoolwork with social time, these seeds shape the routines we build that eventually allow us to succeed.

But other seeds sprout leaves that reach beyond ourselves. For journalism, I hope that experimenting with newspaper layouts in this first issue serves as a catalyst for continued creativity in the coming issues. Not just in design, but in the ways we tell stories and represent our students and faculty.

Most importantly, the seeds I strive to plant are ones of connection, both within the journalism team and everyone

we encounter at school. As a Winged Post Editor-inChief this year, I want to set an example of creating relationships with both those closest to me and those I’m unfamiliar with.

My wish for this year is that the journalism team not only continues reporting important news, but also deepens the bonds we share as a staff. I hope we forge friendships and support each other through challenges. Embrace the people who come your way — they will serve as fellow staff members in the journalism room and friends beyond it.

technology, an all-day ban like those implemented in some local schools would not properly serve our student body. Rather than a full ban, Harker should opt for restriction of phone access during class only. Many teachers already have their own policies regarding technology usage like designated phone bins at the start of class, and a unified expectation across classrooms would help create space for deeper engagement. The responsibility falls on students to make conscious choices with our devices. We should understand the harms of excessive phone usage and be willing to implement healthier practices: keep phones away during conversations; use class breaks as an opportunity to connect with peers; and silence notifications to maintain concentration. By adopting these changes, we can set the standard for a healthier phone culture without an all-day ban.

Corrections TO ISSUE 6

NEWS 2: Dyuthi Boinepalli should be Dyuthi Vallamsetty, and Christian Choi should be Christian Mehta

NEWS 3: Missing grades for Stellan Lindh and Maya Affaki

OPINIONS 9: Should be “50% of students” instead of “50% students” on infographic

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.

At the same time, every interview is an opportunity to encounter new voices across the campus and beyond. Each of these conversations plants seeds of understanding, bringing together our community. Throughout this year, I hope our staff uses journalism as a conduit for meeting people from all walks of life.

Setting these standards early and holding ourselves accountable will allow our gardens to flourish. So as we begin this year together, I encourage each of you, before August slips away, to plant your own seeds of tomorrow.

ashley mo

editorial board

Diving into Alzheimer’s detection with junior Claire Xu

lily peng

Q: What is your research about?

A: “My research is about Alzheimer’s disease detection. I specifically wanted a noninvasive, blood based detection method using GNN and reinforcement fine tuning. I created something called Neural Net, which is an AI system that captures strong expressions with neighboring genes.”

Q: What were the steps in your research project?

A: “I read lots of papers on Alzheimer’s and how the current methods worked. From that, I was able to see what is missing in the current research. So I started experimenting on my own, using different methods and different types of neural networks, and eventually I landed on this type of network.”

Q: What were some major challenges or setbacks?

A: “One major challenge was understanding how quickly you can be misled by data. When I was running my AI model, there was a confounding factor, like education level, which distorted gene expression. I learned to not trust patterns until I understood the context behind it.”

Q: What was your favorite part of your project?

A: “I enjoyed letting myself explore, and learning more about Alzheimer’s and how it affects your daily life. While I was doing my research, I found out eating more iron-rich foods can help with neuroplasticity.”

Blooming from the STEM: Crafting clean code

Matthew Huang (’15) mentors his team, modernizes Figma

caden ruan & claire tian

Every time you scroll through Instagram or order food from DoorDash, you’re using a digital interface shaped by Figma Design. Over the past five and a half years, Matthew Huang (’15) has helped push Figma from a 100-person startup into a company with over 2,000 employees. Now a technical lead working on the front-end platform team, he focuses on helping engineers at Figma build clean and reliable code.

Figma is a prominent design company that offers a suite of collaborative platforms to create, prototype and test user interfaces. Major companies like Facebook, Instagram and Yelp utilize Figma Design, enabling designer teams to collaborate in real time on their products.

As a tech lead, Huang guides an initiative to modernize Figma’s codebase. His team ensures that the platform can continue developing smoothly as more features are added.

“I’ve been working on revamping the way that Figma’s application gets data from its servers,” Huang said. “We have to improve code that has been written in one pattern for the past 10 years and move it all to better patterns for the future of Figma development.”

Huang compares writing software to professional organizer and TV personality Marie Kondo’s philosophy of decluttering and only keeping items that spark joy.

“I really enjoy making sense out of things that are complicated and putting them into cubbies that feel neat and organized,” Huang said. “I can see the effects of what I do at

Figma on my teammates. It allows them to build things easier and safer, and it allows them to feel less annoyed and cluttered when they’re working in our codebase.”

I learned that working somewhere with more structure and initiatives was really beneficial for me.

MATTHEW HUANG

FIGMA TECHNICAL LEAD

As his role grew in Figma, Huang recognized that leading his team meant not just assigning tasks to them but also about understanding what motivates them.

“In order to cater to everyone’s needs, I have to find projects they’re uniquely suited for,” Huang said. “Understanding my teammates and allowing them to shine at their best potential is something that I’ve had to pick up, but it’s also something that I enjoy trying to be better at as well.”

His journey through software development and current work philosophies began in high school, where taking classes like AP Physics C and AP Computer Science sparked his interest in deeply understanding STEM subjects. Huang further pursued his passion at Harvard, earning a degree in computer science.

“The teachers at Harker really loved the subjects that they were teaching, and the assignments we got there were really fun and hands-on,” Huang said. “One time we programmed our own chess bot and tried to beat ourselves with it, and being able to accomplish that task in the scope of a semester of the year felt really gratifying.”

Huang co-founded a startup with his friends during university and spent two years trying to build a product from the ground up. He recalls the experience as intense, often feeling uncertain about the direction of the company.

“Everything became much clearer for me after I took a step away from the startup and joined a more established company,” Huang said. “That’s when I learned that working somewhere with more structure, clear charters and initiatives was really beneficial for me. I can become a leader in my own right in this new structure.”

At Figma, Huang discovered a company that aligned with his values, as the company strongly emphasized care and precision.

Visit harkeraquila.com for more.

Frosh tackle tech, teamwork at robotics camp

alvira agarwal & hannah jeon

Harker Robotics hosted its annual week-long introductory summer camp from Aug. 11 to 15, welcoming incoming frosh in Robotics director and computer science department chair Eric Nelson’s room and the lab. Club leadership taught the basics of designing and building a robot and held bonding activities.

Each morning and afternoon, campers rotated between two subteams of their choice, including design, electrical, game strategy, software, mechanical/ machining and media. New Robotics member Jackson Ryan (9) recalls his experience in the mechanical/machining and electrical subteams, appreciating the hands-on learning opportunities.

“We learned how to solder and how to use different machinery like a lathe or a milling machine,” Jackson said. “We also did field work

by sawing and preparing wood pieces that are meant for the field. I like doing stuff with my hands mostly, and in this camp I also get to know who I’m going to be around next year.”

Additionally, the app development, outreach and public relations subteams gave the frosh a glimpse into the operations side of robotics through presentations.

Behind the scenes, Executive President Brenna Ren (12) coordinated registration and worked with subteam leaders to plan lessons, all while circulating between rooms to check in on students. After being a part of summer camp for four years, Brenna sees it as an essential introduction to the team’s culture and opportunities.

“It gives the incoming frosh a really good taste of what robotics is like in high school,” Brenna said. “It also helps them decide where in robotics they want to focus on, since we have an a.m. and p.m. subteam group, so they get to try out two

different subteams. I’ve heard people talking about wanting to do drive team or other things like that. It just helps them get more exposure to these different opportunities.”

Many of the student leaders guiding the sessions were once previous campers themselves. For mechanical/machining co-lead Angela Pang (10), this year’s camp felt like coming full circle.

“[Helping out with summer camp] is pretty fun because now I know how to get around the lab on my own,” Angela said. “I know how to operate the machines, so teaching others first helps me solidify my own understanding.”

After club fair takes place in September, the team will continue to train frosh to prepare for the offseason competitions and upcoming season.

ASHLEY MO

TEAM TRAINING Mechanical and machining lead Sophie Yeh (11) instructs students on how to use the Tormach CNC mill.

HANNAH JEON

OPEN ARMS Figma technical lead Matthew Huang (’15) smiles on the steps of San Francisco’s Alamo Square near Figma’s headquarters. He embraces the team-focused, dedicated nature of his work.

Reshaping renewables

One Big Beautiful Bill guts climate policy but leaves some paths open

or the environmentally conscious, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) appears anything but beautiful. Passed on July 4, it terminated federal funding for nascent wind and solar projects. Princeton University’s Zero Lab estimated that by 2035, the U.S. would lose 300 gigawatts of capacity, roughly the amount it would take to charge every electric vehicle in the nation at the same time.

Katherine Park, youth director of the nonprofit Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, has led multiple lobbying efforts that facilitate the Bay Area’s gradual transition to wind- and solar-generated electricity. The OBBBA’s funding cuts reduce the profitability of sourcing from renewable energy.

“I was in disbelief,” Katherine said. “Especially for the U.S.’ energy infrastructure, this bill is going to set us back a lot.

But I’m also thinking, ‘Is there a way we can work around this?’”

Yet the bill maintains upsides, as Congress did not change federal funding for nuclear, geothermal and hydropower projects. The Biden administration originally instituted these credits in 2021.

“This bill is going to set us back a lot. But I’m also thinking, ‘Is there a way we can work around this?’

JANE GORINSKI

CHEMISTRY TEACHER

”For all three energy sources, the government will finance 30% of the construction costs and provide 2.75¢ per kWh in tax breaks. Electricity in the U.S. costs 17¢ per kWh, so power companies receive a 16% discount for using nuclear, geothermal or hydropower. Nuclear energy in particular has generated interest from AI juggernauts like Meta and Google for its sheer efficiency, as the MIT Technology Review reports. Chemistry teacher Jane

Gorninski warned against the excess fear associated with nuclear power, arguing that only the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters had caused any loss of life in the past 50 years.

“Nuclear has been proven to work very well and very cleanly,” Dr. Gorninski said. “If it’s well engineered, it will never produce a problem. The very few times it did, we know what happened. That’s why people avoid nuclear, but it produces a lot of energy relative to [wind and solar].”

While nuclear, geothermal and hydropower stay unscathed, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) takes a leap forward. the OBBBA, the tax credit for using captured CO2 has ballooned, increasing from $60 per ton to $85 per ton.

Carbon capture plants chemically suck CO2 out

Lower atmospheric CO2 concentrations reduce the

OpenAI’s previous chat interface offered multiple models with varying intelligence levels and costs for users to choose from. GPT-5 provides a simpler user experience: while it is still a single system, GPT5 analyzes a query’s wording to automatically determine whether to apply deeper reasoning or deliver a quicker, lighter response.

There was so much anticipation, but it hasn’t been as

AI frontrunner OpenAI released its new flagship large language model GPT-5 on Aug. 7 and generated a mixed reception from users.

GPT-5, the company’s flagship model, improves upon previous OpenAI models in benchmarks like solving expert-level math and science questions. It also features upgrades in employing external tools like Python.

“It’s definitely a lot more accurate than previous models,” incoming Stanford University computer science Ph.D. student Nathan Hu said. “And it’s a bit smarter about seamlessly using tools like Google search behind the scenes.”

As the improvements in OpenAI’s latest model was modest compared to the leaps between previous releases, GPT-5 fell short of expectations.

With the arrival of the One Big Beautiful Bill, many clean climate initiatives will come to an end.

“Especially for the U.S.’energy infrastructure, this bill is going to set us back a lot,” Katherine Park of Silicon Valley Youth said.

OpenAI’s GPT-5 shows progress but falls short of expectations

“The difference between GPT-2 and GPT-3 was pretty radical in terms of how coherently you could complete text, and the difference between GPT-3 and GPT-4 was this whole new paradigm of training them to be human assistants rather than just completing text,” Hu said. “It feels like 5 is an incremental improvement rather than radically different, as was implicitly promised.”

These small improvements did not significantly raise performance in tasks like writing or programming. The day after the model was released, OpenAI addressed negative public response by restoring access to the popular model GPT-4o for paying users.

“GPT-5 is better than older GPT models, but I still prefer Claude for coding,” Martin co-founder and CEO Dawson Chen (’22) said, referring to the AI company Anthropic’s chatbot. “There was so much anticipation, but it hasn’t been as life-changing as we’ve hoped.” Visit harkeraquila.com for more.

CAPTIVE CLIMATE

claire tian & caden ruan

DAWSON CHEN MARTIN CO-FOUNDER

On course with consistency

Sophomore Sai Kaneshiro builds mental fortitude playing golf

Awenjie zou & emma lee

rrriving two hours early to every golf tournament, sophomore Sai Kaneshiro warms up and practices swinging, chipping and putting to prepare both her mind and body. She scribbles a winning strategy in her notebook as she studies the course and determines which path to hit the ball. Her routine has remained constant throughout her entire golf career.

Sai started playing golf eight years ago when she joined her parents to play recreationally. With more practice to get accustomed to the sport, they registered her for her first golf competition, and after entering a few tournaments, her hobby soon evolved into a long-term passion.

“For my first tournament, I was a little nervous,” Sai said. “I don’t think I played that well, but I learned a lot from it. I was like, ‘This is something I want to keep doing.’ When I go to a tournament and my practice pays off, that’s what really keeps me motivated.”

Since then, Sai established herself in the upper echelon of junior golfers. In ninth grade, she joined the Harker varsity team and qualified for the California State Championship as one of the top 54 highschool golfers in the state.

Varsity girls golf coach Ie-Chen Cheng recognizes that even as a sophomore, Sai sets an example for the team.

“She’s humble, which is really important,” Cheng said. “She’s so elite, but she doesn’t walk around like, ‘I’m so good.’ She’s able to bring her ability to lock in and get super focused in matches. The whole team is able to learn from her intensity.”

“I don’t

worry about how others are doing. I trust that if I keep working hard, then it will work out.

”

On the technical side, golf requires not only concentration but also proficient expertise. Cheng says that Sai’s fundamentals remind her of that of professional golfers.

“Her ability to keep the ball in the fairway and stripe her drive down the middle is incredible,” Cheng said. “I’ve hardly ever seen her hit a wayward shot, and that’s incredible. To have that kind of consistency is a bit mind-blowing. You see [professionals] spray it, but she’s always down the middle.”

While the mental pressures of the game continue to test her, Sai’s years of experience have taught her to properly control her head space. By mastering her mentality, Sai completely commands where her swings land.

“A lot of people say golf isn’t a sport, but people don’t understand how hard golf is,”

Sai said. “It’s not as physical as other sports, but it’s just as difficult because it can be mentally draining.”

Whenever someone scores over par, it’s common for a less disciplined golfer to implode, meaning they perpetually score higher on later holes because they get hung up on their mistakes. Sai learned to avoid this pitfall after a stressful moment in a tournament in April 2024 when she kept comparing her progress to her competitor’s, leading to her falling behind in rankings.

“I played in this tournament and was in contention,” Sai said. “On this stretch of three holes, I did badly, but my playing partner was doing really well. It created this huge momentum shift. I ended up falling behind and for the rest of the round, I could not focus.”

From that point, Sai focused on avoiding comparing her scores to those of her competitors in the middle of matches. By faithfully following the plan written in her notebook, she treats each hole as an isolated task, so past mishaps like a bogey, taking one extra hit to finish a hole, do not influence her future performance.

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Exercise apps enrich athletic lifestyles, redefine training

how high I can get my top speed.

As technology continues to grow, it makes its way into all corners of daily life. Zoom, DoorDash, Spotify — apps exist for almost every purpose, with fitness being no exception. Exercise tools support a range of physical interests, from laid-back recreation to intense workouts.

For athletes like junior Jaden Ruffy, Strava is a go-to. Using phone sensors or paired devices such as Apple watches and heart-rate trackers, Strava provides detailed workout summaries for a variety of activities including foot, cycle and water sports.

Jaden downloaded Strava to track bike rides and runs with his dad. His favorite features are the statistics provided by the app and how they drive improvement each workout.

“Strava helps add a sense of competitiveness between my dad and me,” Jaden said. “I love going fast on my bike and seeing

On some of the famous climbs I did in Italy and France this year, they have Strava checkpoints which automatically start a timer for certain segments of bike rides, so I can see where I rank compared to others.”

“

Strava helps add a sense of competitiveness. I love seeing how high I can get my top speed.

JADEN RUFFY (11)

CYCLIST AND STRAVA USER

Alongside standard features, Strava sets itself apart from other exercise apps with its social networking component. Strava allows users to follow others, create groups and react to friends’ workout.

When sophomore Aahana Sharma joined cross country in her frosh year, she downloaded Strava and joined the Harker cross country group through recommendations from upperclassmen. The communal nature of the app holds her responsible for staying consistent with training.

“I couldn’t make it to practice one day, but I still went on a run on my own because I wanted to maintain my streak on Strava,” Aahana said. “It just gives you encouragement to not fall off. Strava also encourages me to keep up my pace because when other people can see the run you did, they can see how hard you were trying, so it makes me want to do better. ”

Exercise software not only supplements experiences but also provides convenience and accessibility. Peloton is a widely used stationary machine and app that closely simulates the real experience of mountain or road biking. The equipment uses immersive technology to

mimic scenic routes and offers interactive classes.

Senior sales representative at Folger Graphics and avid biker Carlos Armenta started using Peloton during the pandemic to fit from the safety of his home. Post-COVID, Peloton remains an important part of his routine.

The Peloton app allows users to switch between different

corners of the world in just a few clicks.

“It’ll take me to Utah, to China, to Thailand, to India,” Armenta said. “It actually took me to some of the roads that I’ve done in Monterey, which was entertaining. I was like, ‘Hey, I’ve actually passed that road.’ The Peloton has actually intrigued me to do a ride sometime in the Grand Canyon in 2027.”

FAIRWAY FOCUS Sai Kaneshiro (10) warms up her swinging technique. Before each tournament, she runs through her drills consistently.

CONNECTED CONDITIONING Harker students use Strava Clubs, Apple Sharing and Nike guided runs to add a social side to training.

disha gupta & nathan yee

Catch a glimpse of fall coaching preparations Coaches facilitate in training fall athletes to warm up for incoming season

When students cheer on a fall sports team at their first match of the season, they might think they’re just starting to settle into the rhythm of practices and games. But in reality, in the weeks or even months beforehand, coaches have already started laying the groundwork to maximize their team’s success. For them, the lead-up to the fall season provides a unique opportunity to prepare as much as possible, giving their team an early advantage even before the first whistle blows.

Varsity girls volleyball coach Theresa Smith begins preparing in the summer with open gym sessions, during which players practice and condition on campus. Smith has seen how this form of pre-season training helps the team get off to a good start in September, especially since the team has moved up to the Foothill Division of the West Bay Athletic League this year.

“I had 11 players who committed to the summer schedule,” Smith said. “That kind of preparation helps us start our season right. The Foothill Division [will be] a more challenging, night in, night out battle, but we approach every season the same — with discipline, respect, heart and the guts to overachieve.”

Smith herself visited the University of Southern

California women’s volleyball team during their first week of fall training and reconnected with head coach Brad Keller, a Harker alumnus. Smith credits her experiences observing, speaking to and learning from the Trojan team with getting herself ready to coach the Harker varsity girls volleyball team each year.

The varsity girls water polo team also begins practices during the summer, which include swimming, weight training and conditioning sessions. Coach László Szieben believes laying the foundations for a good season during the

Long distance running fosters mental strength

victoria li & risa chokhawala

Sophomore Olivia Zhao stands at the starting line of the San Francisco Marathon’s first half in late July, surrounded by thousands of runners buzzing with anticipation. The chaos, the chatter and the nerves of one of her first half-marathons pressed in on her all at once.

“I was nervous because I’ve never run beside so many people in my life before,” Olivia said. “It also felt really inspirational since so many people were out there, some who weren’t even running. It felt so good that the community was there to support you and push you to be the best.”

Olivia gained an interest in long-distance running this past year, starting with 5Ks and 10Ks before her dad encouraged her to do her first half-marathon.

Middle School Division Head Evan Barth has also been drawn to long-distance sports since he was young. Growing up, he often spent weekends on long bike rides and later turned to triathlons as a way to stay healthy by mixing in different forms of exercise like running and swimming. He finds mental clarity especially in the training aspect of the sport.

“Training is a way to simplify my mind in the sense that when you’re on a 40-mile run up in the hills, that’s all you’re doing,” Barth said. “So, all you’re thinking about is, ‘How do I feel? What am I going to eat? What am I going to drink?’ Anything else that’s going on in life takes a backseat.”

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summer frees up more time for strategy planning in the fall.

“We approach every season the same — with discipline, respect, heart and the guts to overachieve.

THERESA SMITH

VARSITY GIRLS

VOLLEYBALL COACH

“Conditioning before summer is a big part of getting

a good start to the season,” Szieben said. “It’s good to get that portion done now so that we’re able to focus more on tactics during the season.

There are some girls who haven’t done club over the summer and haven’t played for almost nine months, so it’s very important to be practicing before the season starts.” Szieben also takes advantage of pre-season to address any physical or technical issues in the team as much as possible before they can start to affect the season performance. The summer also serves as a transition period

from the previous year’s team to a new one, in which new players join and returning players start to take on larger responsibilities.

“This year there are some girls who have some shoulder issues, so we are trying to address that now with shoulder rehabilitation sessions before games start,” Szieben said. “But I have good feelings about the season. Last year we had some seniors who were contributing a lot. This year other people will need to step up, and the summer is an important opportunity for them to start doing that.”

” Athletes triumph from the sidelines

caden ruan

Across sports, from basketball hoops to baseball bases, the spotlight often falls onto the starting players on the team. They begin the game, dominate the stat sheet and get featured on highlight reels. Yet behind them, the bench players’ work is just as essential. These players live in a state of readiness. Whether they’re keeping the energy high, pushing teammates in practice or hitting decisive shots, their contributions can make the difference between winning and losing.

For varsity boys basketball head coach Alfredo Alves, this readiness is essential to the team’s success. In last year’s first-round Central Coast Section playoff matchup against Marina High School, frosh guard Lucas Huang came off the bench and scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, powering Harker to victory in a close winor-go-home game.

“The starters know they’re going to play,” Coach Alves said. “With the bench players, it’s a

little different; a bench player may not know when their time is called. They may go in the first quarter or in the fourth quarter, but they’re going to be ready if their name is called.”

A bench player’s job can be just as mentally and physically demanding as the starters on the team. They don’t have the luxury of easing into the game; instead, they have to step into a game at full speed.

“As a bench player, you have to be ready to deliver your role,” an anonymous varsity boys basketball player said.

many substitutions; we sub people in and out very fast. Our bench players always have to be ready to go, and they’re going to play an important role in the success of our team.”

Bench players contribute not only through their playing ability but also their roles in keeping the energy high and pushing starters to play hard during practice. Midfielder Kaitlyn Nelson (11) has felt this impact firsthand, noting that energy from the bench helps fuel the team’s momentum. Visit harkeraquila.com for more.

jonathan szeto & janam chahal

BEYOND THE BENCH Varsity boys basketball captain Vyom Vidyarthi (‘25) cheers for his teammates. Players on the bench contributed to the game by supporting teammates on court.

PRE-SEASON PLANNING Volleyball coach Theresa Smith, cross country coach Jorge Chen and athletic director Dan Molin prepare for fall athletics by organizing and overseeing tryouts and practices for athletes prior to the start of school.

Welcoming our frosh class of

lass of 2029 kicked off their upper school experience with various orientations designed to ease the transition and build connections among the students.

Frosh attended the annual field day on Aug. 21, marking their first official day on the upper school campus.

Students began the day by meeting their new advisers and advisory groups the Auxiliary Gym. Senior Link Crew representatives joined each group and led campus tours before everyone gathered on Davis Field for physical team-building activities hosted by Apex Adventures.

“The Harker campus was great, and the

even better because everyone was really inclusive,” frosh Keji Yuan said. “Us new students molded into the community very well. Even though there may be old friends that some people might have here, everyone still felt very open and made new friends. I really appreciated and loved that.”

Advisory groups rotated through six collaborative activities, including a silent card-sorting competition and a challenge requiring students to guide a teammate standing on an A-frame to a finish line and back.

On Aug. 22, the Class of 2029 matriculated into the upper school during the annual ceremony. During the opening days of school, multiple student organizations collaborated to launch the inaugural Frosh Welcome Week.

Student Council began the week by hosting a bucket list writing exercise, followed by LIFE Board’s roundtable discussions on Tuesday. Honor Council organized bingo games and served ice cream on Wednesday, and the Student

Harker Spirit Leadership Team concluded the week by starting the eagle painting tradition on Friday.

Student leaders played crucial roles in supporting new students and faculty during orientation events. Link Crew helped to welcome the frosh at Field Day.

“It’s really exciting being among the first people to welcome the new freshmen to campus,” Link Crew member Sofia Shah (12) said. “I remember being in their position a few years ago, so I hope I can help ease their transition.”

Important Dates

WEEK Mon. – Fri., Aug. 25 – 29 SPIRIT KICKOFF Fri., Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m.

opportunities to build stronger relationships and explore

emma li & jonathan szeto

Welcome to the upper school, Class of 2029! We know that the transition to a campus as large as this one can be a bit overwhelming. So to get you started, we’ve compiled tips for your first few days on campus. From quality-of-life tips to more practical guides, here are a few handy suggestions for the school year ahead.

• Manz stations are chaotic (prepareyourselves)

• TryAuxorthebistroareafirst

• Bepatient,don’tcutorshove

Under the Nichols stairs

In the Orchard

Tables in the Quad

Attend club fair on Sept. 16

• Try out a lot of new clubs; you can choose some to focus on later!

to guide one person across a grid step-by-

BLIND LOGIC (RIGHT) Han Wu (9) holds a playing card to his forehead while studying another teammate’s card.

tiffany zhu