Seniors are preparing to leave North Atlanta as graduation approaches and move onto a new experience as they leave their legacy behind. Natalie Lau is a senior who has left her mark on the soccer pitch as well as in the classroom. After four years of high-level play as a varsity soccer letterman, she’s able to reflect on a trove of memories she’s built up.  

As a hard-charging midfielder she’s been a key contributor in an especially rich chapter of North Atlanta women’s soccer. During her career the Warriors had three state playoff runs and during the 2014-15 school year were state Final Four participants. This year, Lau’s experience and leadership on the pitch meant she was named by her peers as a team co-captain, an honor she held along with senior Millie Long. “Obviously the lead the team as a captain is something I never took lightly,” Lau said. “It was a lot of responsibility but it’s something I was glad to do.”

This year’s squad notched a winning record of 8-5 and was 3-5 in region play. Lau said she bittersweet that the team didn’t make it to state but she said she was proud that the team continued to fight, even in the face of hyper-competitive region play.

“These four years have been so memorable for me and being able to play a sport i love with a great group of girls has been so much fun,” she said.

She said she’s particularly heartened to see such strong new crop of juniors who will be able to take up the mantle of leadership in the coming year. “I know that next year’s team will be competitive and I can’t wait to even come back and watch at few games,” she said.    

On top of being an athlete, Lau is in the school’s competitive IB program that demands a lot of time and work. Tasked with juggling athletics and academics, she has learned how to effectively sort out her time in order to manage all of it. On top of that, she also actively participates in several clubs including Warrzone, the school’s spirit club, along with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Lau said she’s enjoyed being in one of the school’s more challenging academic pathways. “The program has certainly always kept me working,” she said. “However, it is so rewarding in the end when you know all of your hard work has paid off when acceptances come around,” she said.  

After graduation in May, Lau will attend Auburn University where she intends to study nursing in the fall. “Although my time playing soccer is done at North Atlanta, I will definitely miss the great memories I made and all the traditions we made,” she said.

Whether it was on the pitch or in the classroom, Natalie Lau has always demonstrated what it is to be a North Atlanta Warrior.