Here’s the full scoop on Lily Martins, a Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School eighth grader.

She cannot be confined to one interest or defined by one talent. She loves math. She loves writing. She plays both violin and saxophone. She runs track and competes on a swim team. Earth Science excites her just as much as the study of space. She is already looking forward to taking Biology next year. She also happens to be growing a potato at home, just to see what happens.

For Lily, success in school is not about choosing one path. It is about following curiosity wherever it leads.

This eighth grader may be the first person to prove that you can have your feet firmly on the ground and your head in the clouds at the very same time.

A lifelong student in the district, Lily remembers that at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School she always saw herself as a writer. Math felt different then.

“I always thought I was more of a writer in elementary school, so it was surprising when math really started to click for me,” she shared. “I got the concepts, but actually solving the problems was challenging. Toward the end of fourth grade and the beginning of fifth grade, it started to make more sense. I credit all of my math teachers at CET and PVC. They really help you understand it and they make it fun.”

Now, math is one of the places where Lily feels most energized. “I like math because it trains your brain to solve problems and spot patterns. Figuring out the steps to solve a problem is really satisfying.”

That same satisfaction shows up in her writing. Since sixth grade, Lily has served as Editor-in-Chief of the PVC newspaper, Tiger Prints. She sets deadlines, writes articles, supports writers who are looking for sources, edits submissions, and designs the final layout. What she loves most is the chance to explore ideas.

“I really love to research different topics and I love writing,” she said. One of her favorite articles explored inventions that were made by mistake, including Post-it Notes and popsicles. “I got the idea for the article, so I started to look into it.”

For Lily, writing is about more than putting words on a page. “I like having my own unique views on things. It’s important for everyone to believe in different things. Having different ideas is what makes new ideas so special. I think writing is a great way to share those ideas with other people and bring issues to other people’s attention.”

She recently wrote an article about artificial intelligence and its dual impact. The piece appears in the latest edition of Tiger Prints. “I wanted to write about AI and how it can be detrimental to the environment and beneficial at the same time.”

The complexity of the topic does not intimidate her. It reinforces the magnetism she feels between contrast and examination.

Her curiosity stretches well beyond the classroom. Lily began playing violin in first grade and picked up the saxophone in fifth. “I love the violin because it’s so beautiful. I also love classical music and learning about various composers. Even though they wrote pieces hundreds of years ago, they are still amazing.” The saxophone offers something different, and through it she has discovered a love for jazz. She appreciates the way two instruments can express completely different moods and stories.

That same sense applies to athletics. “I love the experience of feeling the different elements of ground and water,” she said. Moving between music, academics, journalism, and sports does not feel overwhelming. It feels like balance.

One of Lily’s passion projects at PVC has been Chinese knotting, a traditional art form that uses cord and pins to create intricate designs. Her grandmother, who is from Taiwan, shared the cultural art form with her. “I like the rich history behind it. It was used for keeping records and messages, but it’s also a form of art. Even though it is now considered art, it has a rich cultural history and unique aspects.”

“At PVC there are so many opportunities to engage, from electives to the passion project and clubs,” Lily said. Looking back, she knows exactly what she will be most grateful for. “I’ll be most grateful for being able to have the time and resources to try lots of different things. If I didn’t have the opportunity to go in depth on different projects, I feel like I wouldn’t have found what it is that I actually like.”

Lily’s parents say they have watched that curiosity grow over the years.

“We’re so proud of Lily and how far she’s come since her days at CET,” they shared. “We’re also incredibly grateful to the teachers and staff who have supported her along the way, keeping her engaged, nurturing her many interests, and challenging her to grow both in and out of the classroom.”

As she prepares for Croton-Harmon High School next year, she holds space for both excitement and nerves. “When I think about going to CHHS next year, I’m mostly excited, and it’s also a little scary to think about all the different decisions high schoolers have to make. I’m really excited about all the different classes and opportunities.” She is considering Modern Journalism and is curious about trying computer science and coding, something new. The Civics, STEM, and Humanities concentrations all interest her, and choosing just one feels nearly impossible.

When asked where her curiosity comes from, Lily credits both her parents, who are teachers, and her experiences in school. “I’ve always been interested in learning different things. I think that knowledge is power.”

From one journalist to another, Lily shared something that might surprise her classmates. “At school I’m kind of quiet, but at home I can be really loud.”

She is analytical and creative. Quiet and bold. Grounded and visionary. With Lily Martins, all things can be true at once. That may be her greatest strength of all.