Claire M. ’23, Reporter
Claire Merchant is a junior at Padua Academy and a writer for Padua 360. She went to Saint John the Beloved for middle school, and she said it prepared her for high school. It is her first year taking a journalism class.
A Panda since freshman year, Claire said she “love[s] the sisterhood and how close everyone is to each other.” Claire also runs cross country for Padua.
“Our cross country team has a really strong bond and it feels like family,” Claire said.
Claire has a younger sister named Caroline who goes to the Independence School. She also has a Labradoodle named Hazel.
In her free time, Claire likes to watch “The Parent Trap” on repeat. She also loves to go to Anna Maria Island in Florida with her family. Claire’s favorite food is chicken alfredo, which she said is her comfort food.
Science is Claire’s favorite subject because she loves “learning how organisms work.” Her hobbies include going to the beach and helping out with Ronald’s Rescue, a charity that raises money for cancer research.
Although she doesn’t like to read because she said she gets bored and has little time, Claire loves to write and express herself through words. She said her high school classes have helped her improve her writing skills throughout the years.
“I knew I wanted to join the journalism class this year so I could better my skills,” said Claire. “… I am looking forward to a great year in multimedia journalism.”
