Cara Buck ’29
Apr 24, 2026
This spring's spoken word night was another bustling event that impacted and inspired students to learn and grow as planners, performers, and even audience members. Spoken word is a welcoming opportunity hosted every term for students to share their interests, ranging from singing and poetry to stand-up comedies. This night was especially significant to the unification of the Mercersburg community and cultivation of creativity and new ideas.
Performing in this event taught students the importance of preparation ahead of time. Kate Sui ’29 said, “We practiced a lot by having rehearsals.” Many of the participants spent time curating the perfect song or poem to perform, highlighting how much they cherish this rare opportunity. Michele Poacelli, the head of the English department, shared that she is shocked by Sui’s ambition to perform for all 12 terms of spoken word nights here at Mercersburg; she is only one of the many Mercersburg students who show love for the arts. Darcy Quinn ’29 added that the preparation for performing a poem is “more chill than getting a group together for a song.” For novices to spoken word, reading an original piece could be a great selection to perform.
Spoken word also builds a community where everyone can feel comfortable to share their ideas. Sui adds, “Everyone is super supportive and excited.” This positive atmosphere can lead to more students opening up to performing in front of their peers in the future. Poacelli added,“There was a lot of energy in that room, and people were really there for it.” Every term, the event becomes a bigger deal, and more people become interested in what this opportunity has to offer.
Constructive feedback from the crowd is extremely important for encouragement as students stand up to perform. However, some voices believe that this spring’s spoken word didn’t establish an encouraging atmosphere as desired. Quinn said, “I definitely don't think [the atmosphere] was as good as winter because in the winter I felt like everyone was a lot more supportive, but this time there were a couple more people who were making fun of it”. Students value an inclusive community where voices can be embraced, which is what spoken word is for.
If you are unaware, this lovely tradition of spoken word initially originated from the previous Director of the Writing Center, Matthew Caretti, which later got handed over to Poacelli. She strived to keep this custom alive and is delighted to see how far it has come. When asked what this event provides for students at Mercersburg, Poacelli collectively described the experience being filled with “happiness, relaxation, fun, entertainment, and a space [for students] to just be their authentic selves.” This once more emphasizes the fundamental initiatives of spoken word. Looking ahead, Poacelli and the student body hope for fairer skies so that in the future, these voices can harmonize with nature in the open air.