No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Rachel Vollemans, who is a biology teacher at Marathon High School. If the Keys Weekly had a fan club, she could definitely run for president.
RACHEL VOLLEMANS
Marathon High School
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I have been in the Keys for around 15 years. After graduating college in Boston I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. While perusing a job board during a snowstorm, I saw an ad for a marine science educator internship on Pigeon Key. Google Maps told me this was a tropical island two miles into the ocean under a bridge and I thought yep, that’s where I want to live! My mother was concerned.
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? For fun I like to lobster and spearfish and run the Old Seven Mile Bridge at sunset. I love living here because we are on the ocean, because it’s nice all year and because of the community. The people really make the Keys a special place to live and Marathon is the greatest city on earth (sorry NYC/Paris/Tokyo etc.).
We know there are no “dumb” questions, but what is an unusually unintelligent question one of your students has asked you in class? I once had a student ask me, “Do teachers even go to restaurants or is that just for rich people?”
If you could bring back one extinct species, what would it be and how would you convince the world it was a good idea? I would bring back the dodo bird! Not only are they cute, chubby and flightless, but imagine going through TSA and telling them this is my emotional support dodo? Who wouldn’t wanna do that?
What do you think plants would do for fun if they could roam around like animals? If plants could roam around like animals, they would head to the nearest steakhouse and order a T-bone to get back at all the herbivores.
If you had to survive on a deserted island, which three plants would you choose and why? I would choose a coconut palm for the electrolytes, but they’ll probably already be there – so in that case, I’d bring a pizza plant, a Spotify plant and a Kindle plant!
What are your thoughts on organic chemistry? Zero stars. I would not recommend!
If water is H2O, why can’t we inhale it? Because it’s two parts hydrogen.
If you could be any element of the periodic table, which one would you be and why? I would be neon! A noble gas just attracting electrons. Strictly here for the aesthetic.
What is something people don’t know about you? I’ve been to over 40 different countries and genuinely love airplane food. I guess my taste buds love a mildly concerning adventure too!
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
