Student Spotlight: Patrick Mitchell

Cabrini Connections student Patrick Mitchell is an 8th grader at Franklin Fine Arts Center, a Chicago Public Schools Magnet School. He was named to the honor roll in the first and second quarters of this year. His favorite subjects, social studies and math, are also his least favorite subjects. He’s really good at them, but that makes them too easy. Patrick likes a challenge.

Next year, Patrick, who is 14 years old, will attend Lincoln Park High School. He is both excited and prepared. “I’ve been watching a lot of high school movies lately,” he says jokingly. He knows a lot of people there and he will be taking good courses. He also wants to start a band and a club for creative thinkers called the “Outside the Box Club.” “I like thinking differently,” he says.

Patrick has a very creative mind. He plays guitar, drum, cello, and piano. He does drama, poetry, and dances a little for fun. He listens to a lot of music, going all the way back to the 1950s, and if he could see any group live, it would be The Beatles. His favorite album of theirs is Abbey Road.

When Patrick grows up, he wants to run a corporation (“Something that everybody uses, like Microsoft”). He will go to school for business and start his own company. He wants to be a major producer of music, too, and direct movies. Sounds like a young entrepreneur in the making!

Patrick got involved at Cabrini Connections through his sister, Imaan Mitchell, a five year veteran of our program. He likes coming to tutoring. He says the sessions are well organized with time for work, computers, and announcements. His mentor is John Kemnitzer. “Do you like him?” I ask with John sitting right next to him. “A little bit,” Patrick replies with a wry smile. He has a great sense of humor.

This summer, Patrick will attend a School of Rock camp in the city. Students are divided into bands to learn about music and perform at the end of camp. Last summer, he went sailing as part of a Yacht Club. If other students are looking for summer opportunities, make sure to check the front board and talk to the College Zone Coordinators. Have a great summer, Patrick!