If you’ve ever met Claire Barlass ’25, a senior from Duluth, Minn., you would understand her answer to the question, “Why Bates?”  “I love the snow,” she told us, “I was following the snow east.” 

If there’s anything Claire likes more than snow, it’s probably math. Her love of the subject started in fourth grade, when her math teacher recognized that she and a few classmates had progressed beyond the assigned curriculum. 

“So we had a hallway class with our teacher. He helped me realize I was capable of doing whatever I wanted to do,” recalls Claire. Years later, she often has lunch with her former teacher when she’s home. 

A feeling of capability is what Claire is helping to instill in fellow Bates students as a tutor at the Peer Learning Center (PLC), which plays a critical role in fostering a holistic, person-centered academic environment. “Bates has done a great job of destigmatizing needing help,” she says. “Going into the PLC doesn’t mean you’re a bad student. Even I, a tutor, will go to the PLC for help.” For Claire, confidence is a big part of the equation, and the center helps students build that confidence, especially in subjects like calculus that can seem daunting at first.

Helping to build the confidence of others has also shaped Claire’s leadership role in the Bates Outing Club (BOC), where she’s part of a larger effort to make outdoor activities more accessible and inclusive for all students. “The outdoor industry is horribly exclusive,” she observes, but through structured trips and supportive leadership, Claire and the BOC are opening up these experiences to those who might not have been exposed to them before.

Claire’s path at Bates has been characterized by her willingness to embrace challenges, whether in the classroom, the outdoors, or in her pursuit of medicine as a double major in mathematics and biochemistry. “I like working in high-stress situations. I love being constantly stimulated,” she says, reflecting on her decision to join the Bates Emergency Medical Service (BEMS). 

Since its founding by Bates students in 1995, BEMS has become an integral part of supporting the well-being of the campus community while simultaneously training and inspiring students to provide life-saving medical care. BEMS has been a vital part of Claire’s own journey, helping her realize she’s capable of much more than she initially imagined.

“My first call was terrifying. With anything, going into a new space where you’re inexperienced can be terrifying. It’s terrifying to not feel qualified in what you’re doing. Feeling qualified comes from experience,” she explains.

Claire’s commitment to stepping outside her comfort zone doesn’t stop with academics or EMS. Last semester, she realized she had become complacent, living in what she calls a “comfort bubble.” To break free, she decided to study abroad in Kenya, an experience that would challenge her in ways she hadn’t anticipated. “The hardest thing was that I was very clearly an outsider,” she recalls. 

After the program ended, Claire and a friend climbed Mount Kenya, a journey that culminated in what she describes as “the most beautiful sunrise of my life.” For Claire, outdoor activity isn’t just important — it’s essential to her sense of self.

As Claire enters her final year at Bates, she reflects on a journey marked by both academic and personal growth. Whether in the mountains, the classroom, or in her relationships, Claire has learned that true growth comes from stepping into the unknown, embracing discomfort, and trusting in the process. 

“We’re more than just our grades at Bates. We don’t talk about our rankings. We talk about what we love about what we’re learning.” For Claire, the pursuit of what she loves has always been about reaching new heights, one challenging step at a time.