For Locust Valley High School’s Class of 2027 valedictorian Scarlett Modlin, the most memorable parts of high school won’t be the grades on her transcript. They will be the people beside her — in the classroom, onstage and on the cross country course.
“At the end of the day, it’s not all about the grades,” Scarlett said. “It’s about the people that you meet and the experiences you have.”
During a recent interview, she reflected on a high school experience shaped by both academic ambition and a deep commitment to activities beyond the classroom. Scarlett is co-president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, a member of the school’s selective Chamber Singers and a varsity cross country and track athlete. She has participated in school plays and musicals, as well as running, since seventh grade.
Through those activities, she found communities that became central to her school experience.
“Most of my memories from high school are not gonna be of me studying for a test,” she said. “It’s really gonna be about the conversations I had and the experiences I had with the people I care about.”
Meeting challenges with support
Scarlett’s drive to challenge herself led her to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program alongside Advanced Placement coursework. Her interest in mathematics brought her to subjects including IB Math Analysis, AP Calculus BC and multivariable calculus.
The transition into junior year, she recalled, brought increased academic demands. What helped her move forward was the support of classmates navigating similar challenges and teachers who understood the workload.
Some of those classmates had progressed through math courses together since seventh grade. Within the IB program, she also found a close group of peers who could lean on one another.
“The people around me have made the most profound impact on my experience,” Scarlett said.
Her family has been another constant source of encouragement, whether cheering from the audience at a performance or celebrating an academic achievement. Sharing those moments with them, she said, makes success more meaningful.
She also credits her teachers with nurturing her curiosity, strengthening her love of mathematics and helping her imagine possible careers.
“All of the teachers I’ve had throughout high school have given me the best experience and have made me actually love to learn,” she said.
Learning to make room for more
Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Scarlett’s answer was simple: Don’t try to be perfect all the time.
Looking back, she sees moments when the pursuit of a perfect assignment or grade brought unnecessary stress and took time away from friends and family.
“You only experience high school once,” she said.
As she prepares for college, Scarlett hopes to continue learning about herself as well as her subjects. She wants to develop study habits that work for her and find a healthier balance between her ambition and the pressure she sometimes places on herself.
A future with math and music
At the time of her interview, Scarlett was still applying to colleges. Her love of mathematics has her considering finance, accounting or economics, with career interests that include accounting, asset management and investment banking. A summer experience exploring stocks helped spark her interest in those possibilities.
Whatever academic path she chooses, music will remain part of it. She hopes to join choirs, participate in campus clubs and continue performing in college.
“I will absolutely continue my music journey,” Scarlett said. “That’s something I will never live without.”