When entering the pubs room, you’ll often find Claire Chen matcha in hand, ready to lead Zephyrus with equal parts sharp-eyed authority and chaotically sagacious advice. As editor-in-chief during the 2024–25 school year, Claire guided the publication through every new policy, crisis, and last-minute layout edit. “It’s just a part of my routine to come here at the end of the day and just chill and relax and sometimes not relax,” she said.
Claire’s favorite Zephyrus memory was traveling to Boston last school year because of the independence she had. “Going on the trains and exploring Little Italy was super fun; their cannolis are really good,” she said.
Outside of Zephyrus, Claire filled her schedule as vice president of AAPI Student Union, a Student Senate member, a Model UN leadership team member, a peer tutor, the Edina Education Fund marketing and social media student coordinator, and myHealth Youth Advisory Board member.
One highlight for Claire this year was the release of the movie “The Wild Robot.” “It was the most peaceful, hopeful, engaging piece of media I have watched in like five years,” she said. “I’m biased towards it because my dad used to read to me the ‘Wild Robot’ series when I was a kid.”
Claire notes that broadly, her year has been surprisingly calm. “I thought senior year would be a little more, I don’t know, crazy,” she said. “I wish they had more bonding senior moments. What if they hosted a carnival?”
This summer, Claire is excited to attend graduation parties. “Put in there that Claire Chen invites everyone to her and Lexi Han’s grad party. 550–,” she said. Word on the street is that there will be a waterslide, Vietnamese catering, lakeside views, and a Hello Kitty ice cream cart.
She also hopes that she can finish planning her summer road trip with Lexi and is looking forward to traveling to Iceland and taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon.
In the fall, Claire will attend Northwestern University to study journalism and is exploring a double major in the sciences. After she leaves for Evanston, the next time you see her might be at the alumni reunion, but only if she’s super rich. “Then I could come back and flaunt my money,” she said.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 20, 2025
