Claire Wang

What does it mean to you to be in the top 10? 

I am grateful to be in the top 10, but it is not the biggest achievement. The reason why people are so invested in class rank is because ranks seem like something that determines someone’s intelligence or their worth. I don’t have to be the one to tell you that that’s not true. To me, the only opinions that matter in my life are my own and my family’s. Although I’m grateful to be in the top 10, I don’t think it is the biggest thing that someone should look at. 

What is something you wish you could tell your freshman self? 

I wish I could tell myself to take some more time for myself and to not be so invested in other people’s opinions.

What is your most memorable part of high school? 

It would have to be anything I do with the drumline. I’ve been in the drumline since ninth grade. Throughout the years, every group of people is different but it is a very fun experience every single time. Performing with them, going on trips with them and rehearsals are the things I’m going to remember in the future. 

What are your thoughts on the current education system? 

I think it’s annoying because I understand that the holistic process is good for seeing the whole picture of a person, but it also places a lot of pressure and strain on teenagers to do everything and to be a part of everything. It is hard to justify the mental energy that it takes out of people. Also, the college process seems gated sometimes because you don’t go into senior year knowing how to go about navigating the process of college admissions. It is a little bit of a challenge, but I’m not sure that there is a better way than what they have right now with the holistic process. However, it is not fun and is not the best for people’s mental health. 

What are your goals for the future? 

My biggest dream is to retire and open my own bakery with a bunch of little pastries and food. That is the ultimate dream, but it is a bit too far into the future. Right now, I’m not entirely sure what I want to do. I’m majoring in nutrition at the University of Texas at Austin, so I know I want to go into the medical field. But, in regards to what exactly I want to do, I’m not exactly sure. I don’t want to be a nutritionist or a dietitian, but I do want to learn about food and how that affects people and society.  

What is your secret to success? 

I have to do lists for school, home, things that people have told me and books I want to read. Honestly, I’m a very forgetful person, so if I didn’t have lists, I don’t know where I would be right now. 

What was the hardest lesson you had to learn during high school?

It is as important to take care of your mental health as it is your physical health. It is easy to brush off mental health because it is not easily seen by other people. It is easy to get wrapped up in how we want other people to think about us. You need to remember that your brain is the most important thing in your life. It is the thing that will be making your decisions. 

How did you stay motivated and what was your motivation throughout high school?

My motivating factor is my sister. Destiny and I are very competitive people since we are twins. We have taken very similar classes and are both in drumline and taekwondo, we constantly have a competing factor. If I see her practicing, then I tell myself that I should be practicing too. If she is doing her homework, and I see her, then I tell myself that I should be doing it too. We are accountability partners for each other.

How much effort did you put into studying after school?

It was not as much time as someone might think. With band, time management was very hard. I put a lot of effort, but I want to emphasize that it was not my only thing in life. There were other priorities outside of school, but I did feel the need to do well in school. 

What is your advice for younger students?

Stay focused on yourself. Especially in Coppell, we get caught up in rank, what school you got into, what extracurricular activities you have and what leadership positions you have. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by what other people are doing. The more overwhelmed you feel, the less you want to do things. Don’t be led off track by what others are doing. Don’t bend to the will of other people. 

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