Carson City Rotary Senior Spotlight: Pioneer Academy’s Claire Callister succeeds in setting goals | News from Carson City Nevada

Claire Callister, the main protagonist of Pioneer High School, embodies the meaning of a welcoming personality. Described by her teachers, Claire is cheerful, bright, energetic and always welcoming others with a smile. Often asked to show new students around campus, Claire has a personality to make people feel at home and welcome.

Transferring to Pioneer in Carson City midway through his freshman year helped reshape his goals and gave him a new perspective and direction for his future. Surrounded by a culture of being accepted for who she is, Claire has thrived and found new successes, improving academically and adopting a personality of joy and gratitude.

Claire has seen her high school experience as a coming-of-age movie with scenes filled with drama, relationship ups and downs, successes and failures, but changing the scene to Pioneer helped focus her address Realizing that she was trying to be someone she wasn’t, Claire took the opportunity to be herself and found her self-worth and began to feel confident about who she is and where she’s headed.

After transferring, Claire appreciated the positive learning environment at Pioneer and how the teachers show that they care about her and help her achieve her goals.

“Mrs. Tarado (science and leadership teacher) is an amazing woman who never fails to make me feel heard, seen and cared for. She embraces all the parts of me that make me unique. I honestly have no idea where I would be if I didn’t make the switch. I went from failing classes and never making it to school to graduating early, and it’s all because of them,” she said. “The teachers at Pioneer have made me feel special, like I could be a part of ‘something bigger than myself. They changed my perspective on what success is and what it looks like.”

With this new perspective, Claire has challenged herself with goals she didn’t think possible and is motivated by a new mantra: if you want to play hard, you’ll have to work even harder.

Claire says she plans to continue enjoying the opportunity to rock climb, hit the gym with friends, ski, and hike while she completes her senior requirements at the end of her first semester. Claire has since been accepted to start college this spring at the University of Nevada, Reno to earn a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and eventually work toward a master’s degree.

— All students named as weekly Senior Standouts appear at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Carson City. The Rotary Club of Carson City is a vibrant and dedicated group of professionals and community leaders committed to making a positive impact. The club welcomes people who are passionate about service and enjoy opportunities for personal and professional growth, networking and camaraderie.