The art room was what initially drew freshman Annika Patrick to La Salle. Having seen it at Open House when her brother — junior Ray Patrick — was initially looking at the school, she instantly knew that she had to go to La Salle.

While she has yet to take one of La Salle’s art classes, German teacher Mr. David Lane has helped her find a place in her foreign language class.

“He pays attention,” she said, stating that he cares about fostering a student’s motivation.

Not just the German teacher, but the class itself has helped her find belonging at La Salle. To her, the collaboration within group projects encourages the sense of community.

“You have to work with classmates and peers and help each other out,” she said. “It’s really fun.”

Outside of the classroom, Patrick participates on the flag football team and is a team manager for the varsity football team.

“Football’s just been a big thing,” she said. “Football games were an event every time they happened.”

Patrick also participates in La Salle’s band, is acting in the ensemble for La Salle’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” and is in both the German and Maker clubs.

Art has been very important to her, and, according to Patrick, is a “fun way to express yourself.”

For her, it isn’t just about being expressive, but is also about being able to ask questions about the impossible and create an answer.

When she was in middle school, she participated in the school’s orchestra, which went to the Music in the Parks festival every May. One year, they won the entire competition for best overall orchestra.

Patrick also likes to be outside, saying that she enjoys being in the fresh air and climbing trees. She specifically noted that one of her favorite memories with her brother stems from two summers ago, where Patrick and her brother would go outside and “just be gone for like, all day,” she said.

They would spend time with some neighbors, playing games such as capture the flag and having nerf wars in the woods.

According to Patrick, reading is “an escape.” She finds it to be a good way to take a step back from school and homework for a bit.

The “Wings of Fire” series used to be really big for her because it was the series that pulled her into reading. Along with “Wings of Fire,” she noted liking reading the “Inheritance Games” series.

Fantasy books have always drawn her in, as she enjoys imagining alternate worlds.

“I like to think about different possibilities, like in another universe, what could be happening there,” she said.

She said that last year she had a lot of stress about keeping grades up, and that she would tell that version of herself to put less pressure on herself and have faith in her skills.

“I got this,” she said. “I am capable. I know my own strengths.”