Pierre Zeineddin – Mr. Revolutionary
“What would be your theme song/walk up song?”
There’s one song that I always use to get ready for high stakes swim races—Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It turns that switch on! Be careful though—I may bust out the goggles and speedo if it comes on the radio.
“Tell us a fun fact about yourself”
Whether at an RM swim meet, pep rally, or football game, I wear my black and gold Napoleon hat to raise revolutionary spirits. It’s also the same type that Richard Montgomery wore in the 1700s.
“If you had one last meal on Earth, what would it be?”
I’d try a “turducken” of my own. A filet mignon, rare, wrapped in bacon, prosciutto, jamón, yellowtail and salmon sashimi, all inside a turkey. Or maybe just a nice bowl of steamed rice. A large one, though.
“Who is your inspiration?”
My family has always inspired me. One thing has made me hope for peace in this world, and that has been knowing that my Jewish cousins get along and are part of the same family as my Muslim cousins, and they have accepted our more Christian influenced branch. Since I don’t really know what heritage I should have, I do as my family has done and accept freedom and tolerance as a culture. I put on my revolutionary uniform and try my best to combine all cultures, because if identities and experiences couldn’t be shared and tolerated, I wouldn’t exist.
“Favorite RM memory?”
Mr. Farhner is the epitome of RM. I remember almost every morning after morning swim practice, my brother and I would see him eating breakfast at Panera and chat with him. He’s always a source of boundless hope and inspiration for everyone.
“What is/was your favorite quarantine hobby?”
Sleeping is definitely it; No more 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM days! I can sleep a few hours after morning practice (and before school)!
“What’s the weirdest place that you’ve slept?”
On the outside steps of the student apartments in Salamanca, Spain—after getting back from a bus arriving from Gijon at 3:00 AM (5 hours late), losing my keys to the complex, and evading the crowd early 2000’s mohawks at a 1:00 AM bus stop at what can’t be called a gas station. Was it a Spanish Crackerbarrel’s? Yes, if you add in bison for the all you can pet/HUNT wildlife pen.
“What is your best talent?”
While I can’t wrap my calves around a saddleless horse, stand up, and fire arrows (like my great grandfather did in the Damascus sands), I can play some tunes by ear on guitar… some. After looking up how to play it. I also have the god given ability to speed read books on the day they are due.
“If you could have dinner with one celebrity, dead or alive, who would it be?”
I would dine with Elon Musk, and try to convince him to give me access to his spaceships. I’d make them into one big fleet … like Star Trek.
“What is your craziest RM experience?”
Each last day of school (in normal years), I’d bring my portable guitar and amplifier and crank it up through the hallways. Each year, I’ve gotten better and better, with more complicated sound systems, too—hopefully this year I’ll be able to put all of it on a cart and echo those melodious sounds throughout RM’s halls.