“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” 

Kaitlyn Su (’25) leads her life following these wise words of Confucius. She maintains a positive attitude in everything she does, from robotics to cooking to gardening.

Kaitlyn first started robotics in seventh grade, and she recalls falling in love with it after attending a Girl-Powered Robotics workshop, where she learned about the basics and hoped to learn more. Kaitlyn eventually joined a team outside of school and continued on that path throughout high school.  

“In the moment when I knew nothing, it was the coolest experience ever,” Kaitlyn said. “I wanted to build robots, not really knowing what it was actually about at all. It just happened to be something that I enjoyed because I like creating things I can see and feel. I like building things that can move because it’s like creating your own human.”

After participating in robotics for many years, Kaitlyn found her way back to Girl-Powered Robotics, this time as a volunteers. She spends time organizing the events and completing administrative work so younger girls can have the same experience that inspired her to pursue robotics.

Kaitlyn also credits robotics as a space where she could escape homework, meet friends and make memories outside of an academic environment. Close friend Tiffany Gu (‘25) recognizes Kaitlyn as an empathetic friend who can readily provide support in challenging situations. 

“She is really funny and very easy to talk to,” Tiffany said. “She’s very empathetic, and she does a great job at breaking down problems. When I have any sort of challenge or if I’m studying really late, she often comes up to me and offers to share her study guides with me. I really appreciate that genuine quality because I think that is kind of rare at Harker.”

Kaitlyn enjoys the aspect of robotics that requires deeper thinking, but she also remembers to take time to unwind through other activities. One of the ways she relaxes and rests her brain is through cooking, a hobby she picked up as a child. 

“When I was a little kid, the only thing my mom would let me do is crack and beat eggs,” Kaitlyn said. “Eventually I got to use the knife, and I would help her cook dinner. Cooking is a good way to do something that doesn’t require as much thinking. I like the thinking side of things like solving problems and learning new skills, but also being able to shut my brain off and do things based on instinct and muscle memory is something that’s fun.”

Computer science teacher Anu Datar commends Kaitlyn’s genuine curiosity, highlighting her desire to understand complex concepts.

“She is extremely focused, and she is a really sincere and hardworking student who cared about knowing and understanding the concepts we covered in class,” Datar said. “She is one who enjoys the whole journey, not just the destination. Kaitlyn is like a breath of fresh air, and she is a very wholesome girl who knows she wants to learn and make the experience more enjoyable.”

In everything she does, Kaitlyn takes the time to enjoy the entire experience, learning new things about various topics along the way. Outside of cooking and robotics, she also enjoys spending time gardening. From her albino cactus to a mutant tomato, Kaitlyn observed a variety of interesting and unique details in her time gardening. 

“Having something that you do like consistently and as a way to take your mind off a lot of the other things that you do is really important to me,” Kaitlyn said. “I like going to my plants and watering them consistently, and also noticing cool things about them. The exploration of what you enjoy and don’t enjoy is something that’s really meaningful in your life.”

Close friend Mirabelle Feng (‘25) notes Kaitlyn’s unique approach to various aspects of life, and appreciates her ability to balance humor and seriousness.

“Kaitlyn has always been a very fun and engaging person, but she also approaches problems very logically,” Mirabelle said. “If I’m complaining about something that happened, she can offer a very big-picture understanding of the situation. When you are having a conversation with her where you need problem solving to be done, she manages to keep the conversation at just the right level of seriousness without it becoming too overwhelming.”

Even in a time when others may try to influence her actions, Kaitlyn knows that the activities she enjoys will bring her the most fulfillment. She faces every aspect of life with curiosity and positivity, and she is consistently determined to give her best effort. 

“What motivates me in life is the things that I enjoy,” Kaitlyn said. “Putting in the extra effort is always worth it. Nobody’s going to call you a failure if you do things to the bare minimum, but doing things half-heartedly is the most depressing thing ever to me. But putting in double the effort makes things so much better for others, and that makes me happy.”