Our first senior spotlight of the new school year highlights a student who is known by all. Even though he has been part of our Rocky Mount Academy family for only a short time, Johnhenry Wirman has no doubt managed to make an impact on everyone who knows him. With a contagious laugh and numerous bad puns, he has become an integral part of the senior class. He excels in whatever he puts his mind to and is dedicated to its completion. This quality follows him in every aspect of his life.

A notable passion of Johnhenry’s would be music. Having at one point played the violin, piano, guitar, and bass, it can be inferred that this is an activity he truly enjoys. His talent can be seen at many faculty or school sponsored events, as he is an important member is the small school band of Rocky Mount Academy. All school sing alongs and other musical events simply wouldn’t be complete without his contribution to the melodies backing up the songs. Unknown to most people, Johnhenry is not only a member of the school band, but also the sole and most important starting member of his own band. He, along with Cameron Cross and Joseph Petruzziello, have made appearances at numerous “open Mic nights,” letting their creativity shine through songs written by Johnhenry himself, along with the help of his other band members. Not only do these songs require him to play either the guitar or bass, but he also is the band’s lead singer. Even without attending one of these open mic nights, his singing voice could be heard at many of the plays he participated in. Most recently this included our very own school play!

As well as excelling in music, he has become a staple of Rocky Mount Academy’s theater department, as well as that of the Imperial Center! In last years production of “Charlie Brown,” Johnhenry was none other than Charlie Brown himself. He spent countless amounts of his time learning lines, music, and choreography for the production, and everyone who saw it absolutely loved it! As well as working with RMA’s drama department, he and his whole family are incredibly involved with the Imperial Center. His mother is the head of the imperial center and manages all of their plays as well as directs the majority of them, with Johnhenry there to help!

While Johnhenry has only been at RMA since last year, his personality and stage presence have become a normal occurrence here. Next year, as he goes off after graduation to do bigger and better things, he will also be greatly missed by the rest of the Rocky Mount Academy family still here. Hopefully we will see him one day on the big screen in movies or music videos getting the recognition he deserves for his talent!

To learn more about Johnhenry, feel free to read the following interview:

1. We’ve heard you participate in and help with a lot of plays. Which one would you say is your favorite and why?

My favorite play I’ve done ever was probably when I played Doc Gibbs in my 8th grade production of “Our Town”. While it was an 8th grade play and not the greatest production I enjoyed being someone completely different than myself.

2. Name your favorite memory at RMA so far.

My favorite memory at RMA is probably hanging out in Mr. Leonard’s room whenever I can, even if I’m not supposed to. But a close second is anything to do with Mr. Stone or Dr. Wells

3. What is your greatest accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I don’t have a greatest achievement. I’m only 17 and know I’ll do something cool someday but for now I’ve just got hobbies I’m proud of

4. What are your pet peeves?

I really hate it when people are fake, or flakes. Like when someone says they’re your friend but then just talks trash about you when you’re not around. And also when you’re supposed to hang out with someone and they just leave you for something better on a moment’s notice.

5. What do you want to pursue in and after college?

I really want to go into a music producing field and start mixing demos for people and maybe even becoming a producer one day.

6. What is your favorite song or quote?

I have always liked what Ricky Bobby’s dad said to him in Talladega Nights “ If you ain’t first, you’re last!”

7. Do you have any nicknames?

Nah not really.

8. If you could have one conversation with anyone, who would it be?

I would have a conversation with Bob Marley. He seems like a really chill dude, or seemed.

9. What is your favorite subject?

AP Psych is my favorite subject.