10 Qs w/ Mr. Nicolaides

10 Qs with

Nicholas Nicolaides

(Chemistry Teacher)

Photo & reporting by Madie Turley

1How long have you been teaching, and what do you plan on doing after retiring?

This is the 14th year that I’ve been teaching. After retirement, I’ll probably go to Greece and continue with my photography.

2Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania, and then we moved to Springfield, Pennsylvania, when I was in middle school. I stayed there until high school.

3I was a curious kid. I read a lot, but always things How would you describe yourself when you were in high school? outside of high school like philosophy books. I wasn’t interested in school.

4What was your first job? What was your first job? My first job was with Wyatt pharmaceuticals in their research and development department’s physical chemistry lab.

5At first, I went to Bloomsburg State College. I wasn’t 4 Where did you go to college, and what did you study? a very serious student there so I dropped out after a year. Some years later, I decided to get serious about things and I went to St. John’s University to study chemistry and philosophy. 6 7What other types of jobs have you had since college? I had my chemistry job, I worked as a commercial

photographer, I owned a deli, I worked at Trader Joe’s, I got a job with FedEx driving a truck, then I slowly found my way to being a teacher. 7 8 What prompted you to start a deli, and what was your experience as a deli owner like? I wanted to be my own boss. My father owned restaurants when I was a kid, so I thought I could do that. I bought a deli and refurbished it. It was a lot of hard work, it was 100-hour weeks, but over time I built up the business.

8Did you have any popular dishes at your deli?

I made a really good hoagie. Philly is known for their hoagies—they call them hoagies up there, down here I think we call them submarine sandwiches.

9

Do you think a chemistry teacher is more skilled at making a great sandwich than, for example, a history teacher?

The advantage a chemistry teacher has over a history teacher, as far as cooking goes, is that cooking involves a lot of chemistry. Cooking involves ingredients. A chemist has to be very methodical in whatever they’re doing.

10 When did you decide to become a chemistry teacher?

At one point, I had to create a career for myself and do something new. In The Washington Post, I saw a little ad saying “Career changes at George Washington University,” [so] I applied for the program. I got in and that was it.

LEE LOVES THE ENVIRONMENT

School custodian puts effort into the protection of the planet

JONGWOO PARK FEATURES EDITOR

After students wrap up their school day and start heading home, custodian Ki Lee wipes the floors and organizes music stands in the choir room. Even after several hours of working, Lee remains enthusiastic.

Lee came to McLean in 2012, making this his ninth year.

“I think the most important role [of a school custodian] is keeping the school clean,” Lee said. “[Then], everybody in the school can work in a clean and orderly environment.”

Lee’s hard work has certainly not gone unnoticed by the people around him, as Building Supervisor Francisco Quintanilla says Lee is extremely dedicated to his job.

“[Lee is] a hardworking custodian,” Quintanilla said. “He wants everything nice and neat, and he’s very organized.”

Lee likes being a school custodian, especially the rewarding moments that help him remain dedicated to his job.

“I like it when teachers or students say that the school is clean,” Lee said. “It’s also heartwarming to see the band members playing music [in a room that I cleaned up].”

Besides helping keep the school in optimal condition, Lee believes that school custodians can help the students in a unique way.

“This building is where students learn and grow,” Lee said. “By demonstrating recycling to the students, I’m helping the students learn how to love the environment.”

Knowing the severity of pollution, Lee wants to help students learn about how they can help the Earth.

“Today, people are damaging wildlife and their [natural habitats],” Lee said, “so I want to ask the students to protect the environment.”

The emphasis Lee places on taking care of the world around him is seen across the custodial team at McLean, as Quintanilla also insists that more people should recycle for everyone’s benefit.

“If everybody was recycling and [keeping] everything clean, then the planet [would be much better],” Quintanilla said.

Lee thinks the school should do more to make sure students know how important this message is.

“I wish the school could create a campaign [about taking care of the environment] so that students could get to know about nature and learn to protect it,” Lee said.

Quintanilla agrees that more people need to know how they can help.

“[Everybody] can do a better job sometimes,” Quintanilla said. “The environment is something that some people forget about.”

Lee is planning to retire in three years due to his age. However, his efforts to save the planet won’t stop there.

“I pick out every plastic bottle from the trash can and put it into the recycling bin,” Lee said. “I wish students would [learn to] recycle well and try to save the environment. Every student’s small efforts can give our descendants a better place to live in.”

I WISH STUDENTS WOULD...TRY TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT. EVERY STUDENT’S SMALL EFFORTS CAN GIVE OUR DESCENDANTS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.” - KI LEE CUSTODIAN

FOR THE BAND — Custodian Ki Lee empties the trash bin in the band room. Lee says he is proud of the students in the band and all the McLean High School students who work hard.