As the school year comes to a close, the class of 2014 prepares to graduate. Furthermore, there are specific students, the valedictorian and salutatorian, which will be honored in a special way. The valedictorian has the highest GPA of the graduating class and the salutatorian has the second highest GPA. This year, the valedictorian is Brian Piatigorski, and the salutatorian is Taylor Li. Both of these deserving students have worked exceptionally well throughout high school and have a learned a significant amount throughout their four years at Pascack Hills High School. This past week, I was able to ask them some questions about their time at Pascack Hills and what they have done and learned throughout the past four years.

Brian, what are your feelings toward achieving the title of valedictorian?

Honored for the distinction, glad to have other people around to help motivate and push each other.

What college will you be attending in the fall, and what major will you be pursuing?

Georgetown University. I’ll be pre-med majoring in biology.

What sports, clubs, and/or extracurricular activities have you been involved with during high school?

Starting sweeper for varsity soccer, debate team, science club, science league, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. I do Kimura Shukokai Karate. I take part in international competitions in countries like Portugal, Switzerland, and this year will be South Africa. In 2012 I won the world championship in 16-17 year old heavyweight sparring.

How did you manage your time between activities and maintaining your GPA?

I know how I learn best, so I try to pick up and accomplish as much as I can in the classroom so that extra outside work is minimal. That way I save up more time for activities.

What person or people helped and supported you throughout your high school career?

Do you have any advice for underclassmen in their future endeavors throughout high school?

Try to really figure out what kind of learner you are, how you learn best. Figuring that out makes learning easier, more efficient, more effective. It’ll cut down how much work you have to put in to get the results you want.

What is the most important lesson you learned in high school?

You get out of school what you put into it.

Taylor, what are your feelings toward achieving the title of salutatorian?

I feel honored and blessed. It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it in the end.

What college will you be attending in the fall, and what major will you be pursuing?

I will be attending Harvard College and I will be majoring in Biomedical Engineering.

What sports, clubs, and/or extracurricular activities have you been involved with during high school?

The clubs I’ve been a part of are Student Government, Future Educators of America, Peer Leaders, Sports Medicine Club, Teens Against Cancer, and National Honor Society. I’ve also participated in Spring Track and Field all four years of high school.

How did you manage your time between activities and maintaining your GPA?

When I have a lot of schoolwork I always find it good to take breaks. I like being able to have something to look forward to so that I have a reason to finish my schoolwork in a timely manner. When I have other activities whether it is work, track, or an extracurricular I am actually more focused because I have less time. There is always enough time in a day to do what you want, you just have to find it.

What person or people helped and supported you throughout your high school career?

My parents have been very supportive. They never pressured me to do well or study; they just let me beat to my own drum. They tried to make sure I didn’t stress out too much over the little things, and even though I always did anyway, it was nice to have people trying to calm me down. I also owe it to the teachers and administrators in this school; I wouldn’t be anywhere without them. I’ve learned so much throughout these four years.

Do you have any advice for underclassmen in their future endeavors throughout high school?

Don’t stress too much about school. Have fun while you can and enjoy time with friends. It is possible to balance both and still do well. Even when it seems impossible, trust me it’s not.

What is the most important lesson you learned in high school?

It takes two seconds to brighten up someone else’s day. Give someone a smile or a hello it goes a long way.