Mila Schweikert may only be 7 years old, but the Palos West Elementary School second-grader is already leaving her mark both inside and outside the classroom.

Mila moved to Palos Park last October with her mom, dad, sisters Emerson, 9, and Sawyer, 3, along with their cat, Desmond, and two rescue dogs, Blue and Bella. Since then, she’s not only excelled academically but also become a friendly face to nearly everyone she meets.

Mila’s pure heart guides her towards making sure no one is ever left out, and her contagious laugh and all-inclusive attitude fill the hallways daily at Palos West Elementary School – something that does not go unnoticed by school officials.

Just last spring, Mila was honored by Principal Jennifer Peloquin with an award for being social and kind to everyone.

“Everyone is so nice at school,” Mila said. “It’s one of my favorite places to be. I love it there. I have made some great friends, and I know that this year, I will make even more.”

Her kindness is matched by her dedication to activities beyond academics. She sings in the children’s choir at Our Lady of the Woods Catholic Church in Orland Park and spends hours perfecting her gymnastics skills at Sportsplex in Orland Park.

“My favorite thing to do at gymnastics is a pullover,” Mila said. “It took a lot of practice, but now I can do it and it’s so much fun.”

Gymnastics bar pullovers — also called chin-up pullovers — involve swinging up and over a horizontal bar, requiring both strength and momentum. Mila hopes to sharpen her abilities further and eventually compete.

Mila also loves animals and looks forward to afternoon walks with her rescue dogs and family around the beautiful blocks of Palos Park. Her family rescued the dogs and saved them from euthanasia through Traveling Tails Dog Rescue, based out of Palos Heights.

“Rescue animals are animals that need a loving home, and we were able to give them that,” Mila said.

When she’s not studying, training, or spending time with her family, Mila can often be found reading or working on creative projects like drawing and painting. She already has a career goal in mind: becoming a professional face painter.

“I always like getting my face painted, and I feel like I can make other kids happy by painting theirs,” she said.

With her mix of talent, kindness and drive, Mila proves that even the smallest members of the community can make a big impact.