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Sports Sports Nov 14, 2025 Swim team makes a splash William Luo ’27 Read More Nov 14, 2025 Heartfelt finish for the storm Sheily Ramirez ’28 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Golf wraps up season Deetya Tandon ’29 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Soccer triumphs over Hill Revant Jear’28 Read More Oct 31, 2025 Light it up! Ally Synder & Riley Choi ’28 Read More Oct 17, 2025 In pink and fired up Revant Jear ’28 Read More Oct 17, 2025 Fighting until the end Sheily Ramirez ’28 Read More Oct 10, 2025 Close call for Blue Storm Kaden Yang ‘29 Read More Oct 10, 2025 Storm swings to victory Eric Wang ’27 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Leaving them in the dust Sophie Han ’27 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Making a splash Celine Liu ’29 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Storm golf swings to victory Ethan Shi ’28 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Field hockey shows spirit Shubhlean Kaur ’27 Read More Sep 19, 2025 Soccer white-out energy Ally Snyder '28 Read More Sep 12, 2025 New squash courts in play Simon Brennan '26 Read More Sep 12, 2025 Blue Storm trains early and often Mingyu Lee '28 Read More May 16, 2025 Mercersburg plays for Lauren Grady Anouk Wandeler ’26 Read More May 16, 2025 Last laps at home Ally Snyder ’28 Read More May 9, 2025 Golf swings against cancer! Bauhinia Chen '27 Read More May 9, 2025 Legacy lives on at Penn Relays Simon Brennan '26 Read More

Opinions Nov 14, 2025 National Guard...for what? Belle Cleveland ’28 Read More Nov 14, 2025 Dreamy revolution Michelle Zhang ’28 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Elected by default Amara Okoye ’29 Read More Nov 7, 2025 Cram week chronicles Eathan Shi ’27 Read More Oct 31, 2025 Viva la cultura! Alle Garza ’27 Read More Oct 31, 2025 Travel un-graded William Shen ’27 Read More Oct 17, 2025 The tragedy of knowing Audrey Hua ’26 Read More Oct 17, 2025 Homie roomie Kaden Yang ’29 Read More Oct 10, 2025 While we wait to eat Riley Choi ’28 Read More Oct 10, 2025 Talent on hold Ally Snyder ’28 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Lost in the flip Riley Choi ’28 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Critically low thinking Annie Mohr ’26 Read More Sep 26, 2025 The dessert desert Alice Yoo ’27 Read More Sep 26, 2025 More than fair William Luo ’28 Read More Sep 19, 2025 Pocketing distractions Jiwon Chung ’28 Read More Sep 12, 2025 School spirit By Cole Piraino ’26 Read More Sep 12, 2025 It’s time to be chalant By Audrey Hua ’26 Read More May 16, 2025 The Ivy ceiling Justin Oh ’25 Read More May 16, 2025 Beyond intensives Maddie Weiss ’25 Read More May 9, 2025 The kin-nection Jack Pollinger '26 Read More

< Back Dreamy revolution November 14, 2025 at 5:00:00 PM Michelle Zhang ’28 For too long, classroom nappers have been marginalized, scolded, and falsely labeled as lazy. Every day, countless students face unjust persecution for one simple act: resting their eyes in class. They are rudely awakened, exiled to the hallway, or told to “get some water,” as if hydration were a cure for exhaustion. Yet sleeping in class isn’t laziness—it’s an advanced academic and wellness strategy society has simply failed to recognize. Recent “research” overwhelmingly supports the science of subconscious learning that occurs when one’s eyes are closed. New studies suggest that sleeping helps students absorb information through a process called “osmosis of the mind.” This is a phenomenon in which knowledge continues to diffuse even in a state of deep sleep – the ultimate form of multitasking. A 2023 Harvard-adjacent study (conducted in my dreams) found that students who rested their eyes during lectures retained new information 67% more effectively than their perpetually alert peers. J ust as computers require periods of recharging while working, students, too, must occasionally enter sleep mode for optimal academic performance. Computers outperform human brains by roughly ten millionfold in data processing and calculation – an inequity clearly skewed by the fact that machines receive the consistent rest they need to recharge. If students were afforded the same luxury, it is entirely plausible that their cognitive efficiency would improve dramatically. After all, we don’t shame computers for charging – why shame students for doing the same? Some may object, claiming that nighttime sleep is sufficient for learning and cognitive restoration. This argument fails to account for the nuances of human circadian rhythms and ultradian cycles. Night sleep primarily serves long-term restorative functions, whereas short, strategically timed daytime naps improve immediate alertness, attention, memory consolidation, and problem-solving ability. A well-executed 67-minute nap during class aligns with natural brain cycles, enhancing receptivity to new information to a degree that night sleep alone cannot achieve. I n the wake of a global pandemic and the relentless rise of social media, rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout have spiked. We now inhabit a culture that glorifies “grind” and “hustle” at the expense of human rest. In a world obsessed with productivity, napping in class transcends mere fatigue; it becomes a quiet form of rebellion – the radical form of self-care in an overstressed academic world. Taking a nap is the ultimate exercise of free will, the epitome of self-respect: a deliberate choice to shut out the chaos of the modern world for a brief moment of peace. Furthermore, external pressures often prevent students from attaining adequate restorative rest at night. In this context, classroom naps are not optional indulgences, but necessary corrective measures for an overstimulated generation. Daytime sleep ensures that students can meet the cognitive demands of rigorous academic environments without succumbing to burnout. Mercersburg Academy promotes wellness, yet discourages classroom rest in practice. Those courageous enough to close their eyes in defiance are, thus, mental health pioneers. Beyond the psychological benefits, classroom sleep also functions as a long-term investment in productivity, heightening focus and cognitive performance in the hours that follow. Historical precedent supports this claim. Eminent thinkers and great leaders, from Leonardo da Vinci to Winston Churchill, utilized structured daytime naps to maximize creativity and productivity. Nighttime sleep alone was never sufficient to fuel their intellectual output. By following in their footsteps, students today continue a long tradition of optimizing human performance through strategic rest. Perhaps the problem isn’t students who sleep, but a system that doesn’t allow students to rest. Let us begin an earnest conversation about institutionalizing in-class naps. If we normalized naps, participation, and morale would likely soar. After all, nothing inspires a good discussion like a nice, shared experience. Next time you see a classmate closing their eyes, don’t wake them—thank them. They are not disengaged, but ahead of their time. One day, when sleeping is recognized as the peak of academic success, we’ll remember the brave ones who dared to dream—literally. Previous Next