At last week’s senior awards night, Kaitlyn Lee was announced as the 2026 Salutatorian. The Classic customarily interviews both the valedictorian and salutatorian afterwards. Here’s our interview with Kaitlyn:

Q: What does being salutatorian mean to you?

Kaitlyn: Being named salutatorian is both a validation and a recognition of the four years I spent at Townsend Harris. The dedication, effort, and hard work I put into my classes finally feel rewarded. It reminds me that all the late nights studying, the countless hours spent at cafés, and the sacrifices along the way were worth it. Hearing my name announced as this year’s salutatorian was an unforgettable moment. Even now, it still feels surreal, and I get goosebumps whenever I think about it.

Q: What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned at Townsend?

Kaitlyn: This may sound cliché, but the most valuable lesson I learned is that success is earned through effort and perseverance. Success is not defined by a single test grade, and everyone measures it differently. What matters is that success is attainable for anyone willing to work toward it. Whether it was studying for a Spanish vocabulary quiz or spending hours on a project, I learned that even small efforts add up over time. Townsend also taught me the importance of trying new things. Some of my most meaningful experiences came from taking chances, whether it was joining clubs, pursuing leadership positions, or playing sports. You never know what opportunities might shape your future until you give them a chance.

Q: What are your best pieces of advice for current underclassman and the incoming class?

Kaitlyn: It’s never too early to start. Whether it’s writing college essays, preparing for the AP exam, applying for internships, or exploring your interests, taking the first step is often the hardest part. Don’t be afraid of not knowing exactly what you’re doing. Starting early gives you time to learn and adjust. Looking back, there were many times when I wished I had begun something a little sooner. It’s better to feel lost at the beginning than to miss an opportunity altogether. My advice is to take chances and grab opportunities when they come. It’s never too early or too late to do that.

Q: What is the best advice you have received that you’ve found helpful?

Kaitlyn: Whenever I felt anxious or overwhelmed, my parents would always tell me, “Relax. Take a breather, and it’ll all be okay.” At the time, those moments often felt like the biggest problems in the world, but looking back, many of them were much smaller than I imagined. Their advice taught me to pause, calm down, and process things before reacting. It’s something I still remind myself of whenever I face a stressful situation.

Q: What is your best late-night-procrastination memory?

Kaitlyn: My best late-night procrastination memory is actually very recent, from when I was preparing for the AP U.S. Government exam. A friend and I realized the exam was much sooner than we thought, so we spent the night cramming Heimler’s History videos and quizzing each other on key concepts. We definitely weren’t as prepared as we wanted to be, but the experience itself was memorable. Looking back, it was one of those stressful moments that somehow became fun.

Q: What is the least expected thing to have happened to you during your time at THHS?

Kaitlyn: The least expected thing to happen during my time at Townsend Harris was discovering my passion for STEM. Growing up, both my parents and I thought I was more of a humanities person because I always loved reading and writing. However, once I came to THHS, I realized how much I enjoyed math and science. Taking AP Physics 1 was a risk for me, but it completely changed the direction of my future. After that class, I knew I wanted to pursue a STEM field, and taking AP Physics C during my senior year only reinforced that decision. I never would have imagined myself becoming an engineering major.

Q: What has been your favorite memory out of your four years at THHS?

Kaitlyn: My favorite memory is actually not a single moment but my entire experience on the varsity basketball team during my senior year. I had the opportunity to play alongside some of my closest friends and underclassmen who became close friends as well. Senior Night was especially memorable and is a moment I will never forget. Basketball has been a part of my life since elementary school, and being able to continue that journey throughout all four years at THHS made it one of the most meaningful parts of my high school experience.

Q: What college will you be attending? What are you most looking forward to for college?

Kaitlyn: I will be attending Cornell University. What excites me most is the opportunity to become more independent, live with a new roommate, meet people from different backgrounds, and experience things I’ve never done before. I’m looking forward to all the “firsts” that come with starting a new chapter of my life.

Q: What if any are your current career goals and/ or plans for the future? What do you plan on studying in college?

Kaitlyn: I currently plan to study electrical engineering, although I’m still exploring my interests and keeping an open mind. I’m also interested in learning more about finance and how it intersects with engineering. My goal at Cornell is to explore different engineering majors and find the field that best fits my interests before officially affiliating with a major.

Q: Describe your high school experience compared to how it’s shown on TV.

Kaitlyn: Television often portrays high school as an intense and overwhelming experience where you’re expected to have everything figured out (like the show Never Have I Ever). While there were certainly stressful moments, my experience was much more balanced than that. Along with the challenges came friendships and memories that I wouldn’t trade for anything. High school wasn’t as scary as I expected.