Seniors of CPS: Claire von Metzsch

Interview conducted by Emnet T. '27

November 18, 2025

Emnet: So first, we're going to start with some rapid-fire questions. What's your favorite Trader Joe's snack? 

Claire: I've got to say Scandinavian swimmers.

Emnet Oh, those are mine too. Freshman, physics or Asian worlds? 

Claire: Physics.

Emnet: Yeah, why physics? 

Claire: I just thought it was super fun, good problem-solving skills.

Emnet: Okay. Gym deck or student commons? 

Claire: Student Commons. 

Emnet: Okay, yeah. What's your go-to karaoke song? 

Claire: Either “Shallow,” like the Lady Gaga one, or “Love is an Open Door.”

Emnet: Ooh, I actually don't know “Shallow,” but I love “Love is an Open Door.” 

Claire: “I'm up to deep in that one.” 

Emnet: Oh yeah. Okay next. What's the best way to spend a rainy day? 

Claire: Ooh, like cooking food with my friends or watching a movie. 

Emnet: Okay, and what is one item on your bucket list? 

 Claire: I'd love to go see some live music in Europe. 

Emnet: That sounds so fun! Last rapid fire question, what's your favorite day of the week? 

Claire:  I like Saturday. 

Claire: Yeah, I agree! Okay, so longer response. If you could give advice to your freshman self, what would it be? 

Claire: Ooh, that's tricky. I would say don't be afraid to try new things. And don't be afraid to embarrass yourself because it's all part of growth. 

Emnet: Yeah. I think that's definitely a good piece of advice. Okay, what is something that not a lot of people know about you? 

Claire: Not a lot of people know that I like to create stuff. 

Emnet: Oh, like what?

Claire: I like to sew clothes. Maybe people do know this.

Emnet: I did not know that. That's so cool.

Claire: I don't know what people know versus what they don't. I also really like to read. 

Emnet: That's cool! I feel like reading is definitely a common thing at college prep. 

Claire: Yeah.

Emnet: But still, it is really cool. If you could say thank you to one place on campus, what would it be? 

Claire: I'd say thank you to the Hill bathroom. I just feel like it's a, there weren't really nice bathrooms at my middle school, and I feel like it's a really nice bathroom. The lighting is good. I always go in there to do my lip combo. So thank you, Hill bathroom. Had some good deep talks in there.

Emnet: Okay. I think that's cool. Okay, what's one of your favorite CPS memories? 

Claire: I had a lot of fun going as a senior leader on the freshman retreat this year. 

Emnet: Oh, that's so fun. 

Claire: Yeah, so that was a fun time. And I've made a lot of fun memories with my friends, mostly outside of school.

Emnet: That's fun! Okay, and where do you see yourself in five years? 

Claire: Ooh, okay, I'll be 22. I'll be graduating from college. And I'm going to adopt a rescue dog and live in an apartment in New York and have a really intense internship somewhere. And I'm going to decorate my apartment with a lot of vintage furniture, and my cute rescue dog is going to sleep with me. 

Emnet: I love that. Okay, well, those were all of our main questions, but do you have a photo of yourself from freshman year and a little story to accompany it? 

Claire: Wait, I'll have to look. 

Emnet: Yeah, totally, take your time.

Claire: You're going to laugh. This is all so funny. I want to find something from school. I have pictures from debate, so ridiculous. Okay, this is me with a Taylor Swift candle (inserted below). It says God first.

Emnet: I love that. 

Claire: I think that's what I got to go with, and I have my CPS volleyball shirt on.

Emnet: Yeah! Would you be okay with us putting this on here?

Claire: Yeah. 

Emnet: Thank you. Those are all of our questions.

Claire, freshman year, with her incredible Taylor Swift candle, captioned God first