Senior Venus S. shares what makes learning—and belonging—at La Pietra so special.

As Student Body President, Venus leads with energy and purpose—but it was in physics class where she discovered just how much she loves to build. She and her classmates engineered their own trebuchets using computer-aided design and laser cutting tools, launching projectiles across campus in a dynamic lesson that blended science, creativity, and teamwork.

"Here at La Pietra, we're taught in a way where you can really see how everything applies to the real world," Venus says. "At my old school, I didn't like science. It was confusing and just too much to process. But here, Mr. Sekulich makes it really understandable and fun."