Kenmore Junior High school student Claire Cook participated in the senate page program in Olympia last week.

Sponsored by Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe of Bothell, the senator was the reason Cook knew about the program. The two met several years ago when Cook was in the gifted education program in elementary school and the senator suggested she go into the page program.

“Claire is smart, and as she aims to be in public service in the future, I am glad she took the opportunity to come down to Olympia this week to see how government works,” said McAuliffe.

Cook wants to be in public service, though she’ll be steering clear of politics.

“I want to be a special education teacher,” said Cook, 14.

She said that she did enjoy the mock hearing in page school though, where the students draft a bill and then debate and vote on it, just as the legislators do in committee.

Cook enjoys theater, art and writing, and also plays softball and goes horseback riding.