Each year at graduation, the Hastings community recognizes the two students whose academic excellence is great enough to earn them the title of valedictorian and salutatorian. This year, those students were valedictorian Carlin McKinnon and salutatorian Rian Kacmarczyk.
Both seniors said that they were surprised when they heard the news; McKinnon even noted that it was a “complete shock” and that she was “very, very grateful and very, very surprised.” Kacmarczyk also shared that he was not expecting to be salutatorian, and that there were “so many deserving people.”
Despite their academic success, both McKinnon and Kacmarczyk shared that this achievement came with challenges. McKinnon said that during her freshman and sophomore years, she sacrificed her mental health and social life in pursuit of academic success. However, in her junior and senior years, she slowly figured out how to prioritize where she was putting her energy, which was extremely beneficial: “As I found that balance, my grades actually improved, because I wasn’t spending so much time in front of a computer screen.” Although McKinnon stated that her academic experience did improve throughout the years of high school, she still wishes that she had more time to spend with her family, including her two younger sisters: “I would never really be able to watch TV in the evening or play a board game or something because I would be studying for a test.” Kacmarczyk, on the other hand, said that he was able to find balance in his life and not have to make too many sacrifices in order to obtain his high GPA. The only drawback, he noted, was that he lost some sleep in junior year. However, he stated that he was able to maintain a “good balance” between his academic and out-of-school life.
While both seniors were highly involved academically, they both also explained that their high school experience was so much more than just their grades. McKinnon shared that some of her passions in high school included being captain of the field hockey team, being a Peer Leader, and participating and starring in many school theatre productions. She notes that she finds a lot of joy in community and in meeting new people. McKinnon also shared that she will carry many lessons from Hastings into college and beyond, explaining, “It would be a shame if I left high school and only learned about how to be a good student,” and later stating, “I’ve been here for thirteen years, and I’ve really learned how to be a good person.” Kacmarczyk also shared that Hastings has taught him many lessons outside of academics. He said that high school is the time of life when everyone is figuring out who they are, and he was no different, sharing that high school was when he “really found his niche.” He said that his passions included Quizbowl, serving on the board of Project SHARE, being a part of the Orchestra, and competing on the Track and Field team. He also said that he gained some really deep friendships throughout his time in high school. All in all, he explained, “What I gained from the last four years is way more of a reward than getting salutatorian.”
Both seniors said that they had very few regrets about their high school experience, but both offered words of wisdom to underclassmen. McKinnon shared the importance of pride in who you are, stating that it is important to “find communities to stand out and be authentic in,” as it “really helps in the long run.” Additionally, she said she would urge younger students to not be afraid of imperfection, because high school is the time to make mistakes: “Being imperfect is actually really beneficial…in my moments of vulnerability is when I made new friends.” She noted that accepting imperfection was something she was able to improve upon throughout high school. On the other hand, Kacmarczyk emphasized the importance of living in the moment: “High school is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if you’re doing something you’re never going to do again, it’s always good to take it in.” He also shared that he wishes he had gotten to know more people, as, in his words, “Everyone’s really interesting, if you take the time to talk to them.”
McKinnon and Kacmarczyk will both carry these pieces of wisdom with them into college and beyond. McKinnon will be attending The College of William & Mary, where she will be majoring in History and Anthropology. Meanwhile, Kacmarczyk will be attending Vassar College, where he hopes to continue with scientific research, specifically in his major of Physics. While McKinnon and Kacmarczyk will leave HHS as valedictorian and salutatorian, their true legacy comes from the friendships, experiences, and lessons they gained throughout their high school years.
