Basics
Name: Maria Eleonora Venneri (aka Greek Goddess)
Age: 17
Hometown: Los Alamos, NM
Favorite inspirational quote: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” –Winston Churchill
Grinnell Life
Year: [2018]
Accomplishments: Being on the swim team, making friends for life, breaking the 200 backstroke school record [author inserted], passing the first semester of college, and surviving the three flight hike to my room everyday.
What would you change? I would change the wind– I hate the wind.
What are you involved in? Swimming, Water Polo (potentially), teaching Italian, and Student Athletes Leading Social Change.
Love Life
Celebrity crush: James Magnussen (but basically all Olympic men’s swimmers)
Status: Sinnggglllleeeee and (we’re trying to get her to get) ready to mingggleeeeee
Past, Present, and Future
What is one thing no one knows about you: I lived in an apartment by myself last summer in Italy for a month and a half.
Where can one find you at midnight on a Friday night? Gates Pit (holla)
What’s your favorite word? Fallacious — it means false
If you could be famous for anything, what would it be for? Singing
How would your brothers describe you? My brothers used to call me ‘The Dominator’ because they always thought I would take care of myself and push everybody out of my way; they would describe me as stubborn, opinionated, and lacking in bullshit.
What’s your biggest fear? The opposite of a fear of heights, I have a fear of looking up.
What’s your worst habit? Popping my knuckles
What’s your biggest pet peeve? When people think that they know how to speak Italian.
Random
Noodles or pasta? Pasta
Gap or Patagonia? Patagonia
Tell us what was it like to sail at sea for more than two weeks: I got to see wild dolphins, and spend two weeks with my mom’s side of the family. I got to see my baby cousin for the first time, and I got tan for the first time in about three years.
Most controversial issue? Whether or not nuclear power is safe and effective to use; I’m very pro-nuclear power.
What’s your go-to outfit? My man-sweats, Grinnell sweater, and my L.L. Bean boots.
What are the top 5 products you couldn’t live without? PG Tips tea, the Grille Brownie cookies, my hair mousse, dried mango, and water.
Nutella or brownie cookie? If I ever had to actually make this decision, life would not be worth living.
Would you rather swim every day (intensely) for a year or not at all for a year? I would rather not swim at all for a year.
Would you rather not be able to swim for a year or never see babies for a year? I would rather not be able to swim for a year.
Favorites
Song: Intro by the xx
Movie: Mostly Martha
Animal: Dolphins
Favorite place: Northern Italy
What is your favorite Grinnell memory so far? Getting ready for 80s Harris; it was when I first felt accepted by a new group.
What’s your favorite Dhall dish? Enchilada Chicken Baja soup with rice
Favorite things: Babies, brownie cookies from the Grille, food in general, Cecily, Haley, and Annie, and the swim team.