Selected Articles
Connie Zheng’s profile was such a pleasure to write. Her maps hold layers of memory and Asian-American agricultural history that speak for themselves. My goal was to capture the thought behind her intricate art. In truth, her quotes carried the piece....my job was mainly to stay out of their way.
This piece on the rise of eating disorders was genuinely cathartic to write because it was so close to my heart. One of my best friends struggled with an ED for years, so I spent weeks making sure my article didn’t sensationalize what she and others actually experience.
Hands-down my favorite piece of the year because it let me experiment with tone and structure in a section that usually leans lighthearted. A&E and Lifestyle are generally about keeping things fun (rightly so!), but I wanted to see if I could add some substance without losing that energy.
A&E is nothing if not diverse. In contrast to some of the more serious pieces above, this was a really fun lifestyle focused article where I curated a "capsule closet" for the fall. I had a lot of fun putting this together and I think it was an informative resource with a lot of personality shining through.
This was the first in-depth piece I wrote and it won an honorable mention at the Quill and Scroll Art, Writing, and Multimedia Competition. Looking back, I notice I only interviewed one source—something I’d never do now—which makes it even more rewarding to see how much I’ve grown as a journalist.
It's not often I write a sports piece, but this one about the Cricket World Cup was my favorite from sophomore year because we interviewed a real commentator! I remember watching 5 a.m. games for two months so I could do justice to the article. Now I still watch them for fun.
My Initiative - Tasty Tidbits!
I LOVE food and I wanted to see how I could leverage that love and combine it with journalism. That's how tasty tidbits was born. I have loved trying new restaurants and cafés through this repeater, and I think it has really caught on within the journalism community. We get at least 2-3 Tasty Tidbits pitches every cycle which is really exciting, and I'm thrilled to see how the repeater grows and evolves next year. Here are some of the tasty tidbits I have written this year!
Humans of Harker
I love people, because there is always so much more to them than meets the eye. Humans of Harker is so special because its a way to pay tribute to the seniors who have touched our community in so many hidden ways. I also feel like sometimes we tend to interview certain people a lot for our typical pieces because they are just very active students, but HoH gives us the chance to really hear from everyone. Here are some of the profiles I have written so far:
OOTD Multimedia
Best of Winged Post
Part of what draws me to design is its ability to express emotions that language can’t quite capture. This issue marked my first time creating a full-page spread, and it’s been the most rewarding part of my work on Winged Post. The piece explores how art can shape identity amid constant cultural expectations, and Sarah Wang’s illustration captures that tension beautifully. Every element on the page feels deliberate, and the symbolism gives it real depth. I also learned the importance of planning early....deciding on the main visual direction sooner would have saved a lot of trial and error later on.
This spread was my first foray into structural design, where I actually tried to build the visual into the page and tell a story. I loved Chelsea's work with the SWYBA feature and I wanted to do it justice. After some inspiring discussions with Ms. Huang and WP Strat, I decided to put the visual into an actual Instagram post. Something that I have tried to do with all my pages is play around with font choice, and I think that is done really effectively here. I do think that the bottom half of the page is lacking a little and I could have incorporated an infographic to increase reader engagement.
This page ended up winning the paper plate award for Best Page, which I think came down to how cohesive and visually striking it turned out. The photos frame the layout in a way that draws the reader’s eye naturally from top to bottom. At the top, I created a collage of all the students’ artwork and used a layered cut-out effect to make the figures stand out from the background. The bottom photo—credits to Quinn—fit seamlessly along the page’s curve, grounding the design and balancing the top-heavy composition. I also added an infographic this time, applying what I’d learned from earlier pages about visual hierarchy and data clarity.
Additional Spreads
Photo Collage
All Writing
Visuals/Infographics
I’m not an artist by any means, but I pitch in where I can. When I’m building a page, I tend to dive into Canva completely, creating massive presentations with dozens of slides as I test out different layouts and visual ideas. It’s a messy process, but that’s how I figure out what feels right. Each round of tweaking helps me tighten the design and make sure every visual choice connects back to the story.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Cover Letter
26 March 2023
Whitney Huang, CJE
Director of Journalism
500 Saratoga Avenue
San Jose, CA 95129
Dear Ms. Huang,
It feels surreal to think that next year I'll be saying goodbye to the program I've come to call home. My journalism staff page is truly a time capsule of my high school experience. I still remember stepping into Ms. Nixon’s room as a freshman, completely unaware of where Introduction to Journalism: Period 7 would take me.
This first year cemented my love for journalism. I met my bigs, Shareen and Sidak, and that was the first chance I had to consider what might lie ahead. It was during this time, when we wrote our own Humans of Harker profiles, that I first took ownership of a piece from start to finish. It seemed impossible to do justice to the cultural background that informed Rahul Herrero’s passion for soccer, but gradually, I honed my writing to honor his voice.
My second year on staff was dominated by an appreciation for people. The simplest act of perching on the infamous Journalism couch was wildly intimidating at first, but now that couch has become a home. It felt that way the first time Young moved from her chair and plopped down next to me with the ease that only a section editor could have. Slowly, I started to sink deeper into the well-worn gray seats and even experimented with different positions that allowed me to interact with new people, from Alison to Janam to Aishani, whose lighthearted jokes helped me feel like not just part of the newsroom but a part of the team.
My third year on staff has been all about community. I have had the privilege of writing profiles of people who create waves that ripple across different communities, from artist Connie Zheng to chocolatier and pastry chef Lisa Allen to two incredible seniors from whom I learned more than I ever could have guessed. On the leadership side, Suhani and I focused on strengthening the A&E/Lifestyle section, encouraging as many reporters as possible to take a vested interest not just in performing arts coverage but also in lifestyle pieces. And it worked — this year, A&E/Lifestyle consistently received the most pitches. To ensure well-rounded coverage, we arranged quarterly meetings with the performing arts department to discuss the best ways to represent student work, such as the fall play long-form. At the start of the year, we developed a detailed guide to help new reporters navigate coverage, which can often feel daunting. We also created a comprehensive spreadsheet listing every performing arts event, ensuring a diverse range of staff members had the opportunity to cover them. Additionally, I launched Tasty Tidbits, a new repeater that has since become a staple of the Lifestyle section.
I am applying for Humans of Harker Editor-In-Chief and Humans of Harker Managing Editor for the 2025/26 school year. Journalism empowers me not just to use my voice, but to amplify the voices of others. During my three years in this program, I have learned invaluable lessons, and as I head into my final year on staff, I want to give back and build upon the foundations laid by the exceptional leaders who precede me.
To the position of Humans of Harker Editor-In-Chief, I bring my love for storytelling. Profile writing uniquely balances factual reporting with a narrative depth that allows us to truly capture someone’s essence. When faced with the challenge of profiling every senior, creativity emerges in the smallest details — a carefully composed portrait, an out-of-the-box quote selection or an experimental video format that brings a story to life.
If given this role, I want to reimagine the way we tell these stories. One way is through expanding the multimedia elements of HoH. We have experimented with video profiles, but I envision a future where we integrate interactive storytelling through SNO’s infinite scroll format, “day in the life” photostories and even audio snippets. Imagine a senior who is a musician — why not incorporate a soundbite of their composition within their profile? Or an athlete — why not integrate slow-motion clips from their games? These enhancements would not just tell their stories but immerse our audience in them. We could even incorporate a podcast where we ask each senior the same question and compile their answers to play at school meeting at the end of the year. This wouldn’t take away from our traditional ‘portrait and quote’ bread-and-butter, but it will give our reporters additional tools in their arsenal as they think about how to best portray their seniors.
Another core focus is strengthening the visual aspect of HoH. As someone who has loved designing Winged Post spreads, I see immense potential for elevating the HoH magazine. We could explore thematic structuring, grouping seniors by shared experiences — whether that be overcoming challenges, pursuing unconventional passions or reshaping Harker’s culture. This approach would transform the magazine from a compilation into a narrative-driven experience, one that seniors will cherish as a meaningful keepsake.
Beyond storytelling, I want to cultivate a culture of enthusiasm and investment. This year, I’ve seen how Winged Post thrives because of its well-connected leadership and vibrant production nights. I want to bring that same energy to HoH. My vision includes a reinvigorated team culture with interactive brainstorming sessions, collaborative workshops on profiling techniques and production nights that start earlier in the year when the magazine isn’t looming so large, focused not only on deadlines but also bonding through music, snacks or team challenges.
To this position I bring my outgoing personality and unwavering dedication to helping HoH realize its full potential. Culture starts with the EiCs and trickles down to the reporters and profilers. As EiC, I will be committed to inspiring a love for HoH in every reporter, whether or not they consider themselves a fully fledged profiler. I’ve seen Sid working tirelessly to make HoH more efficient and rally her team, and I want to build on that. By the first deadline of next year, I want our production nights to be filled with more snacks, more staff members, and more memories.
Ms. Huang, thank you for being such an amazing advisor, for surrounding me with so many outstanding leaders, and for working to cultivate those important qualities in me as well. I walk away from this journey with a deeper passion, a stronger voice and a community that has shaped me in ways I never expected. None of it would have been possible without you. I am immensely grateful for your guidance, your trust and for helping me write a story that will stay with me long after the final page.
Sincerely,
Disha Gupta
15985 Grandview Ave
Monte Sereno, CA 95030