Danika loves anything at all to do with art. She is very shy which presented a bit of a challenge when she was matched with her Big Sister almost a year ago (see the story of their first meeting below). They quickly discovered a shared love for letting their creative juices flow and are always thinking of new ways to incorporate art into their meetings. It's been wonderful seeing usually-quiet Danika light up and get excited when she creates something or thinks of a fun new artistic activity to try. Danika is heading into high school soon and already signed up for several art classes. She also plans to join some of the after school art groups, which will help her continue learning new techniques and meet others who share her passion. She has expressed interest in being a teacher when she grows up, and she's already taught her Big Sister lots about different ways to be creative! When Shannon, Big Sister, and Danika met for the first time, Danika was extremely shy. Shannon was unsure of how to overcome the newness of their match. At their match introduction meeting, they agreed to make ice cream sundaes for their first activity. It could not have gone better-- they had a blast! As they ate their ice cream, Danika became less timid as she excitedly talked about her favorite foods and restaurants. They bonded as they learned that they had similar tastes in food. Since that day, they have prepared and tried many different types of foods and desserts, including chicken quesadillas, funfetti cupcakes, personal pizzas, and even mint cookies from scratch! Although a picky eater, Danika has started to open herself up to trying new foods. She loves searching for new recipes and restaurants for them to try. It has been rewarding for Shannon to see Danika's growing enthusiasm for cooking and new cuisines.