Known for her dedication in all aspects of life, SHS senior Claire Murray is joining this year’s Senior Sleigh Ride. Born and raised in Scituate, Murray is a true SHS Sailor–especially since she has been sailing since she was a little girl. In addition, she has many pets, including her cat Tucker—which she noted as her favorite (even though she feels bad for choosing)—another cat, a dog, and many fish.
When asked to share advice with underclassmen, Murray said, “Be involved, pursue your interests, and join clubs.” Devoted to her extracurricular activities, Murray is a head delegate of Model United Nations. Winning awards at Model UN conferences represents some of her biggest academic accomplishments since participation in conferences requires students to move out of their comfort zones. Murray has won an honorable mention and verbal accommodation award at previous conferences.
Recalling her previous trip to the Galapagos Islands through SHS, Murray explained how this experience impacted her life. While on the trip for a week and a half, she joined the other students every morning at 5:30 AM to take a three-hour boat ride to a different island. Murray said the boats they went on each day were unlike ferry boats. Instead, they were simple, gutted-out boats with seats. She enjoyed learning about the culture and experiencing a new way of life.
As president of the Robotics Club, Murray said he thoroughly enjoys being a team member and taking a leadership role. Some of her favorite high school memories include attending robotics competitions because of the excitement and energy generated in a gymnasium filled with students who love engineering. Recalling the loud and overstimulating competitions, Murray said she likes problem-solving in a short amount of time.
Murray said two of the most challenging classes she completed at SHS were AP Chemistry during her sophomore year and AP US History during her junior year. AP Chemistry was her first AP course, which may have contributed to the difficulty level. Her favorite high school course was AP Language and Composition, which she took during her junior year. She liked the class’s open discussion format, which helped her learn how to analyze topics more deeply. Murray remarked that her English teacher, Catherine Hall, “clearly wants all of her students to do well.”
After high school, Murray plans to major in engineering in college, but if she changes her mind, she might pursue a political science or English major. Her life goal is to help people, whether through a career in engineering or something else.
When asked who she would bring on the Senior Sleigh Ride, Murray said she wished she could bring her grandmother, who passed away earlier this year, noting, “She was the coolest and wisest person ever.”