“My personality is full of contradictions,” she says. “I’m shy, but I like to stand out. I tend to be a leader, to push shyness away when there is a task to get done. I’m curious and adventurous, but I am incredibly conscience of the negative outcomes my explorations could have.”

“I have an eclectic style. I love classic looking clothes but I also enjoy very modern and original looks. My casual clothes are dressier than most,” says Claire.

And she is already wise beyond her years and committed to making the world a better place. “What really forms my personality,” she says, “are my morals.” “I do my best to always have a positive impact on those around me—from smiling to passers by, to complimenting people who look down, to helping people.“

Claire says that “what makes up a large part of my personality and moral code is that I am thankful. I am not part of the one percent, my family knows conflict and sadness, and I have faced my fair share of trials and tough situations, but I am so grateful. I am taken care of by my parents who love and support me, I was born in a country where (as a girl) I am educated for free and encouraged to pursue any career I wish.”

Claire spends a lot of her spare time with her Glencoe High School robotics club and we made sure to capture some of her high school senior photographs with her wearing her Robotics team shirt. She works specifically with mechanical engineering and design and is a team captain and mechanical leader. “I love designing systems for specific purposes and watching them come to life,” says Claire.”

Claire also loves working with children. She has started and coached a FIRST Lego League team at a title 1 school in her community. Claire also volunteers at a center for equine therapy where she works with handi-capable kids and horses.

Aside from those activities, Claire has a love for reading (specifically adventure and fantasy). She essentially grew up in a library, reading books under her mother’s desk who was a librarian. Because of that, Claire and I set out to incorporate her love of books into her High School senior pictures.

She wanted to create some vintage type images with her reading old books outdoors in a natural area with fields and trees and a lake.

Claire is “determined to go to college in California” and spent a good part of her summer touring California colleges. In the meantime, while she’s not reading books, helping others, or building robotics you’ll find her “hiking, shopping (specifically at unique boutiques and funky stores), and dreaming.”