Club Scholarship Recipient Claire Switzer Proudly Carries On The Family Namesake

When your name is "Switzer" and you're a student at the University of Oklahoma, questions are bound to arise.

That's been just one of many enjoyable and exciting experiences for Katy Taylor High School graduate Claire Switzer, a 2013 recipient of an OU Club of Houston scholarship. Claire is a distant cousin of former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer, who celebrated his 76th birthday in Norman on October 5.

Q. What was it like saying goodbye to your family and friends as you departed the Houston area for your freshman year at OU?

Saying goodbye to my family and Houston was much harder than I had expected! I actually cried a little bit when my parents left Norman after helping me move into my dorm! It was definitely weird saying bye to my hometown and all my friends, especially because I was the first one to go! I knew it was coming, but I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be until August 7th came around and I was on my own! I love Norman, but being here has definitely made me aware of how much I really do love Katy and Houston! It’s weird not seeing my parents and brother on a daily basis, but fortunately they pick up when I call and I talk to them all the time!

Q. You went through sorority rush. What was that experience like?

Rush was long, tiring, and exciting! I thought volleyball games were loud, but you don’t even know what loud is until you walk into a large sorority house with about 150 other girls singing songs and chanting at you! I loved all the excitement; however, it is definitely a complicated and emotionally intense process! You meet with so many different girls from different houses and in less than a week somehow you are expected to decide which one is best for you and they do the same! You can’t imagine how tiring it is! I enjoyed meeting so many girls and I’m glad I ended up at Alpha Chi Omega! One of the best parts about rush was that I bonded with many of the girls on my hall who were going through rush with me! They have become some of my very best friends already!

Q. What classes are you taking this semester? Have you had any "surprises" taking college courses?

I am taking General Chemistry, Sociology, Business Precalculus, Introduction to Rehabilitative Services, and Individual Fitness this semester. Three times a week I walk into a lecture hall with 250 other kids and we listen to a professor talk about molecules and solutions. The class is much larger than I’m used to, but somehow I’ve managed to pay attention! In Sociology, my professor lectures in class, but I am responsible for all the textbook readings he assigns each week. There’s a lot of information to learn and it takes a lot of my time, but that class is extremely interesting so I don’t mind too much. Nothing in my classes has really shocked me, but I have realized the necessity to study every day and manage my time extremely well.

Q. What's your "typical" school day like?

My typical school day is micromanaged down to the minute! Between, school, sorority, and trying to get involved with clubs, I stay extremely busy. Now I know why so many kids are considered night owls! Usually I wake up for class at about 9 and go to class until 3. I then go study and attend any meetings or events I have that night. Then I study more! Every now and then I find time to squeeze in meals and sleep! I use my planner like it’s my Bible! I highlight all my events, quizzes, tests, and meetings, so it is colored in like you wouldn’t believe!

Q. How much have you enjoyed attending OU football games?

OU football games are the best! It’s crazy to me that now instead of watching them on TV, I get to live them! I love that it’s an all-day affair too! The tailgating is definitely impressive! It’s remarkable how many people come out and set up their tents the day BEFORE a game and just hang out! The student section is awesome! We do so many chants and songs and it’s so fun! I get chills when the pregame video comes on and the band comes out! The atmosphere on game day is tremendous and it makes me love OU even more!

Q. Do people know you're related to Barry Switzer?

People have definitely asked me about my last name! I think they ask me as a joke, but then it’s hysterical how their eyes get really big when I say that I actually am related to him! I can’t wait to be able to say that I have met him too!

Q. What's the best thing about being a student at the University of Oklahoma?

The best thing about being a student at OU is the hundreds of ways to get involved! I’ve only been hear for a couple months and I’ve already gotten involved in Greek life, the Pre-PT/OT club, Campus Activities Council, and Younglife! The sense of community is amazing and I love that so many opportunities exist for any and every student at OU!