The rhythmic tapping of laptop keys and the clicking of mice are the sounds of the Gusher’s pages coming together in the yearbook room.

At swim practice after school, the steady repetition of laps in the BOHS pool is marked by bleating whistles and encouragement from coaches.

And in between creating spreads and striving for personal records are the notebooks, planners, and highlighted pages of a valedictorian.

Somehow, Claire Yoo (‘26) manages it all, balancing the roles of Brea Olinda High School’s top students, the Gusher’s Editor-in-Chief, and the varsity swim team’s co-captain.

But Yoo doesn’t just robotically juggle a schedule jam-packed with leadership, academics, extracurriculars, and athletics; the senior tackles her endeavors with enthusiasm, smiling her way through the rigors of her daunting schedule.

Yoo partly credits her positive attitude to deft time management. “My mindset [in] high school has been, I have 24 hours each day to get stuff done,” Yoo said. “24 hours is so much time, so if I set my mind to it, I shouldn’t have stress.” 

Behind Yoo’s calm approach to her demanding schedule of five AP classes is a strong support system at home. “My parents say, ‘As long as you do your best, that’s all we could ask for’,” Yoo said. “So I never had that external stress [from home]. But they also knew that if I did my best I should get an A, so that’s the standard I set for myself.”

Yoo’s father, Peter Yoo, said, “I’m proud of what she’s accomplished because she does it while maintaining her fun and engaging personality.” 

In addition to the leadership roles in yearbook and swim, Yoo serves as president of National Honors Society (NHS), UNICEF, and vice president of Brea Rotary. 

But according to Yoo, it’s her role as Editor-in-Chief of the 95th volume of Gusher that has defined much of her experience at BOHS.

“It’s the most rewarding class I’ve ever taken,” Yoo said. “It has taught me how to manage people and approach challenges that I wouldn’t get until I was in the workforce.” 

Yoo began her yearbook career in the ninth grade as a staff member before advancing to Managing Editor and Sports Editor her junior year. Now, as Editor-in-Chief, she oversees the entire 328-page publication and its staff of 26 students.

Yearbook is a family affair for Yoo. Claire’s older sister, Sara (‘24), also worked on the yearbook staff as design editor, and witnessed Claire’s growth firsthand. 

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to have led her as an editor my junior and senior years and helping [Claire] grow her passion for designing and creating a yearbook,” Sara, who now attends UCSD, said.

While yearbook editing and AP coursework dominate her school day, after the final bell, Yoo trades her laptop and textbooks for swim cap and suit.

This swim season, which began Feb. 25, Yoo was voted co-captain, alongside Rylee Szary (‘26), by her teammates. 

Yoo’s journey in aquatics reflects both personal and physical growth. 

A former soccer player, Yoo reluctantly joined swimming after suffering two ACL injuries.

“I vowed I would never join swim because I did [Brea Glenbrook Swim Team] for my knee rehab and it sucked,” Yoo admitted. “I didn’t want to wear a [swim] cap, but look where I am now.”

Where she is now is leading lanes in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles.

“I put in a lot of effort to get better,” Yoo said. 

She credits her improvement, from initially nervously hiding behind the pool deck’s blocks to anchoring the relays, to her older brother, Eliot Yoo (‘22), who also swam varsity at BOHS. 

“It’s cool how much she’s progressed ever since I had to teach her how to dive and flip turn so she didn’t embarrass herself at tryouts,” Eliot Yoo joked. 

Balancing yearbook deadlines and swim practices can be challenging, but swim head coach Gil Rotblum works with Yoo to help her manage both commitments. “Rotblum is super understanding because he knows I need to do yearbook,” Yoo said. “He tries really hard with all of us and I really appreciate it.”

Yoo’s competitive nature also extends into the classroom.

On March 6, Yoo was named one of 14 BOHS valedictorians, a goal she had set years prior. “Going into freshman year I was like, I want to be valedictorian,” Yoo said. Being at the top of her graduating class was motivating, but she was also motivated by sibling rivalry. 

“I wanted to beat my older sister because she was salutatorian [in 2024],” Yoo said. “I’m just the ‘younger sister who’s always competitive,’ but Sarah has always been so supportive.”

Yoo’s hard work in the classroom also earned her a spot in the Boeing internship program, which initially came as a shock. “I didn’t think I was going to get in because mostly [Global Information Technology Academy] students do and I’m a ‘yearbook girl,’” Yoo said.

Yoo gained valuable hands-on experience in the program. 

“I learned a lot about engineering,” Yoo, who intends to major in engineering in college, said. “I got to make a carbon fiber skateboard for my final project.”

Sarah Yoo said of her younger sister’s juggling of academics, swim, club leadership, and yearbook: “She continues to amaze me in her ease of understanding and her urge to learn and do more inside and outside the classroom.” 

Yoo moves seamlessly between her passions — leading, learning, and challenging herself. Because for Yoo, who hopes to attend UCLA in the fall, balance isn’t about choosing just one path, but embracing every single one of them.

With a smile.