Search Results

Celia Kerf ‘25 < Back Tae is going way… to Art School! Celia Kerf ‘25 Sep 29, 2023 Dean Tae ‘24 is in the process of applying to art school for architecture. The Advanced Studies Studio Arts class he took his junior year allowed him to fully immerse himself in the arts and related work. The feedback Tae received from his seven peers in the class and the conversations they engaged in challenged him to continuously find ways to improve his work. “Art, especially painting, is a recollection of my memory. I try to capture the moment I’m in, and express it in different ways: texture, composition, color, and even the subjects,” Tae said. This process requires a lot of thought and attention to detail which challenges Tae to find deeper meaning within his work. Architecture always has a purpose but often leaves room for the viewer’s interpretation. “All structures of a building are placed in a way that they harmonize to hold up the whole, and it is the viewers’ job to render the purpose and the meaning of it,” Tae states. Before his sophomore year at Mercersburg, Tae had never painted, and he only took Painting I to fulfill his art credit requirements. Art teacher Sydney Carretti pushed Tae to take Painting II and later take Advanced Studies Studio Arts. Although Tae was unsure at first, he discovered his love for art through these classes and realized that art would forever be a part of his life. He expressed his gratitude by acknowledging Caretti and the significant impact she had on him, saying, “[Ms.] Caretti nurtured my inherent passion for art and challenged me to become a better artist. She guided me through a very transformative moment, and I am truly grateful for everything she has done for me. All wouldn’t have been possible without her guidance!” Over the summer, Tae attended the Summer Architecture Program at Columbia University and diligently worked on his portfolio. He is still developing and polishing his pieces as he is determined to put his best foot forward. Tae is now looking to pursue a career in art and architecture and is applying to various fine art schools that offer studio space and encourage collaboration. This includes Cooper Union, Cornell, Pratt, RISD, Syracuse, and Tufts, among many others. Previous Next

< Back Cram week chronicles November 7, 2025 at 5:00:00 PM Eathan Shi ’27 The atmosphere in the library feels different during exam week. Students who rarely visit suddenly appear every day with flashcards and notes in hand. The panic and urgency are almost tangible. It is the week that defines our progress in the term, but also the week that tests our sanity. At Mercersburg Academy, Fall exam week is a rite of passage. It is the only formal examination period in the whole school year, yet it’s crammed into 5 days just before Thanksgiving break. Students take two exams per day, with each evening left for reviewing and recovering. The idea is to test what we’ve learned in the fall term. However, in reality, there are students pulling all-nighters, teachers rushing to grade homework before break, and some others who decide to give up halfway through. It feels more like a test of endurance and pressure than a measure of learning. Personally, I think exam week does more harm than good. Students get overloaded with homework, studying, and the mental stress that comes with it. As a result, they sometimes don’t perform their best, making the exams an inaccurate reflection of their learning. I believe it is better to have tests spread throughout the term instead, because students can prepare for them more thoroughly without worrying about all courses at once. I remember last year when I was studying chemistry until midnight, only to forget half of it the next day. I knew the material beforehand, but my nerves pushed me to stay up late to make sure I knew everything, which led me to sacrifice sleep and memory. While some people believe that the exam week is a good tradition, I think we should begin contemplating whether it truly reflects our learning. Some people argue that the exam week pushes students to study and review class materials thoroughly. It can strengthen discipline as well. Students can feel rewarded and satisfied when they finish the week with a ten-day break. However, the issue is not the exams themselves—it's about the mental pressure and unease they bring to students, as all the exams are crammed into one week. One possible solution is to extend the exam week into two weeks so that exams are more spread out, or to replace one-third of them with projects. Projects allow students to demonstrate their abilities in a more natural and creative way, emphasizing deep understanding. More importantly, this approach reduces pressure and promotes genuine learning over last-minute memorization. Fall exam week may be an institution at Mercersburg Academy, but education can evolve. Since the goal is to assess the student’s understanding of the content, the exams should focus on comprehension over stress. Perhaps a comfortable space should be offered for students, where they can show their abilities and knowledge without losing sleep over it. After all, exams should build students' confidence—not exhaustion. Previous Next

Devin Rotz '25 < Back It would be "Beautiful" Devin Rotz '25 Dec 9, 2022 Excitement was stirred within the Mercersburg community due to the Dance concert and Gaslight play. Now, many students await the Winter Dance Concert as well as musical. Recently, Kelly Dowling, the Director of Theatre, announced significant changes to Stony Batter’s Winter production. Dowling announced that they would no longer be performing the musical Les Miserables but instead be performing Heathers: the Musical. Les Mis and Heathers are similar in cast size but have major differences in popularity and story. Dowling said, “ Les Mis is really a Broadway classic that will still be talked about decades in the future… Heathers is more of a cult hit. It has actually never had a Broadway run, but it really connects with current teenagers, and, of course, it is a bit edgier.” Les Mis is also noted by Dowling to be the more difficult of the two performances. Dowling said, " I made a mistake picking Les Mis . It was well-intentioned, but it turned out that I made a bad choice.” Heathers, however, has more dancing. To those who may have been looking forward to the production of Les Mis, it will be making a comeback. Dowling said, “ Les Mis will find its time eventually when the moment is right.” In Stony Batter’s productions, the biggest factor in their success is the students who make them happen. Members of the upcoming winter production shared their thoughts about what it felt like to get through the change and what it means to them. Tyerra Rooffener ‘23 said, “ While Les Mis is a classic, in my opinion, Heathers is more fun for both the actors and the audience and I’m really excited to put it on for everyone…The set design [of Les Mis ] was going to be very unique and I was excited to see it come together. ” Another member of Stony Batter, Kerri-Ann Denis ‘25, shared similar thoughts saying, “ While Les Mis is a classic and I am sad to see it go, I am very happy to produce something that is catered towards the student body.” Both shared the similar idea that, while they will miss Les Mis , Heathers seems to appeal more right now to the students of Mercersburg. Dowling also said “Our program is very lucky to have their trust to make this show possible.” She is also thankful for the support and leadership from the Head of School Quentin McDowell, and the interim Associate Head of School for Student Life Jen Craig. Previous Next

Susanna Huang ‘27 < Back Campus Expansion Susanna Huang ‘27 Apr 12, 2024 With the commission of Mercersburg’s Campus Master Plan, Mercersburg Academy aims to refurbish buildings on campus and construct one STEM building and a new dormitory. Head of School Quentin McDowell explained, “The goal is that our facilities can always support our programs; that is a very critical part of any planning process. We have identified several areas paying attention to our academic spaces, making sure we expand our academic spaces enough to house the programs we want to deliver.” One of the first anticipated renovations will be Ford Dining Hall. “It is a high priority for the school,” Julie Maurer, Associate Head of School for School Life, stated. “There will probably be some visual and spatial changes to the patio,” said Jennifer Craig, Associate Head of School. In addition to the dining hall, students should expect a new STEM building in the near future. McDowell explained, “Education changes very rapidly, and facilities don't change as quickly; as we are thinking of our new facilities and the growth of our campus, its really about making sure it is as flexible as possible so that they are adaptable to the future of education that we are aware and partially unaware of.” Currently, Irvine Hall accommodates math, science, languages, and academic departments, so moving some offices out of the building will create more space for innovation and collaboration. “We are at maximum capacity in our classrooms right now, we want to have a more advanced and up-to-date space. We are very cramped for the maker and robotic spaces, and we don't have enough space for these programs to grow like they should,” said Maurer. Thomas Zhu ‘26 said, “We definitely need a building dedicated to the sciences because currently the science facilities are housed in Irvine which limits the capacity a lot.” With the addition of a new STEM building, more space will open up to reassign in Irvine Hall. Craig explained, “If you look at our square space per student, it is very great, but if you look at the academic space per student, we don't really have enough classroom and creative academic spaces for students to really create, collaborate, study, and bring groups together to work on a project.” Renovations to academic buildings aren't the only improvements on the docket – changes in the dormitories may also be on the horizon. “We are also being very thoughtful about our the demands on our residence halls in the next 10 or 20 years; we are likely going to build a new dormitory so we can accommodate students while refurbishing the old buildings,” McDowell stated. “I think a new dorm would be a really good idea, especially with the number of girls that are in Fowle Hall right now; there are just a lot of people in one building,” said Stella Johnson ‘25, a prefect in Fowle Hall. Students also suggest inspiring ideas regarding dorm facilities. “Our campus is missing a place for residents to cook, especially for boarding students,” explained Jaidee Promphan ‘25. As the school paints a bright future regarding campus expansion, Craig explained, “Fundraising is really at the heart of whether you can build a new building or not.” However, “It is in the near horizon, hopefully in the next 5 years working on at least the dining hall and the science building,” said Maurer. Previous Previous Next Next

Justin Oh ‘25 < Back Managing anxiety in an ever anxious world Justin Oh ‘25 This past Monday, Mercersburg students gathered in the Simon Theatre for the first endowed lecture of the school year: the Ammerman Family Lecture. School Minister William Whitmore said that the endowment “supports a series of distinctive programs for the Mercersburg Academy community that brings to the community speakers of national renown who have important perspectives on significant issues of the day and the capacity to help young people understand the relevance of such issues in their lives.” This year's lecture was given by Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, researcher in psychology, Hunter College professor, and published author, most recently of the book Future Tense. She spoke to the evolutionary necessity of anxiety for survival and encouraged the audience to embrace their nervous moments. Regarding the choice for this year’s speaker, Whitmore said, “Dr. Dennis-Tiwary was selected given her unique approach to anxiety and her previous experience speaking with high school-age students.” He also explained the relevance of Deniis-Tiwary’s field of expertise for Mercersburg students: “Given the prevalence of concerns around anxiety on our campus, and in the wider society, we felt it was important to bring in a speaker who could help us frame these issues in a different way.” Regarding the substance of the message, many students generally had positive opinions about it. Bingxiu Qin ‘25 said, “The speech was thought-provoking and relevant to my life, as I gained a new perspective on anxiety, which I found helpful in dealing with my stressful schedule.” Alex Van Ess ‘24 said the speech gave him insight on harnessing his anxiety for success. He said, “Rather than thinking of anxiety as something debilitating, I can now try to make it a tool that I can use to get work done efficiently and make it through during stressful or high-pressure situations.” At the same time, there were some voices that criticized some portions of Dennis-Tiwary’s speech. She was seen by some as overly academic, and prone to minimizing the personal experiences of anxiety and anxiety disorders. Crystal Chiu ‘25 said, “I wish she would have specified that this talk was more about ways to approach anxiety, or even spent some time digging deeper into anxiety disorders.” During the following day’s Q&A session, Dennis-Tiwary addressed these criticisms directly, going so far as to ask students for feedback on how she could have improved her talk, saying with a smile, “I’m an excellentist, not a perfectionist.” She acknowledged that due to time constraints, she was unable to make her points with as much understanding and empathy as she had wanted. She affirmed her belief that those experiencing disordered anxiety should get the help and support they need, and she offered an analogy to illustrate her point. “Emotions are like waves. They come, and they go, and they rise. You can learn how to swim. You can learn how to surf. You can even learn how to sail. And sometimes [the wave] will flatten you, but that's just being human.” Following the Q&A, Fawad Jan ‘24 said, “Personally, I really liked it. I play squash and find anxiety to be helpful when I have to play a match. I learned new things, and the Q&A also clarified some views I already had about this topic.” Previous Next

< Back They're watching us April 21, 2023 at 4:00:00 PM Talia Cutler '23 At the outset of this school year, student began to notice an increase in the number of surveillance cameras around campus and the dorms. School authorities assured us that they were a necessary security feature: a way to enforce the rules and maintain safety. To me and many other students, the cameras are an intrusion on our Mercersburg experience. The expansion of the cameras, despite what the school’s administration may say, comes at a great cost: the loss of student privacy. Our dorms are first and foremost our personal living space. Our dorm rooms are supposed to be our homes. They’re a safe environment for students to sleep, socialize, do their laundry, shower, etc. And while there are no cameras inside the dorms (with the exception of Main Hall), the abundance of new cameras outside of residential spaces has left many students feeling uncomfortable in and around their own “sacred” living space. Students who feel like they are under constant surveillance can experience increased anxiety and fear, which can in turn affect their mental health and overall well-being. Whether or not the cameras are a scare tactic to deter students from entering other dorms I cannot say, but it is a widely accepted truth on campus. Students are afforded such limited privacy, it is - an issue in and of itself. It becomes easy to see the cameras’ growing presence as a Big Brother in student life or as just another way to crack down on student relationships. (Seriously, why are they such a big deal?!) But I am not naive, and I understand that as an isolated campus, one of the reasons for the cameras is the school’s legitimate concern for our well-being. In fact, the prevalence of cameras outside the dorms may not even be effective in promoting safety. If an incident were to occur, oftentimes the cameras are not properly situated to capture it, and they may not provide enough information to help identify the perpetrator. It is better to focus on other preventative measures, such as an emphasis on campus security patrolling around or near town (rather than patrolling students), providing emergency phones in every dorm, and conducting safety drills. Instead of relying on cameras, the administration should focus on the aforementioned methods to promote safety and respect students' privacy and well-being. Security shouldn’t make us feel anxious and afraid; it should make us feel secure. Previous Next

Kyle Hwang '26 < Back Just keep swimming (with the pros) Kyle Hwang '26 Oct 13, 2023 On September 30, Mercersburg Academy’s boys and girls swimming competed in its annual intrasquad Blue and White meet during Family and Alumni Weekend. The teams also competed in non-swimming events like volleyball, kickball, and a bellyflop contest. The team has a strong group of returning and new swimmers who are already preparing for the important winter season. “The team is doing very well so far,” assistant coach Steve Fowler said. “We lost a lot of seniors last year, especially on the boys side, about twelve people. On the girls side, we have some talented seniors, which is good. But the boys are especially young. So it has been hard to reload, but we are really happy with the ones we picked up. You see the excitement for next year because they are developing and are already getting better this year. We have some real talents.” On October 7, Mercersburg Academy invited Keystone Aquatics, Waynesboro Arena, and Shepherd University Wellness to compete in a USA Swimming invitational hosted at the Lloyd Aquatic Center. The invitational brought together many talented swimmers from across the country, a great learning opportunity for the Blue Storm swimmers. Fowler commented, “To watch somebody that was pro-level against us really helped. It boosts our kids. It was a very different atmosphere but we haven’t gotten any duel meets yet. That’s our high school competitive season, while right now is what we call a USA invitational season.” During fall practices, the team has focused on strengthening and mock competition. Ingrid Janney ’24 said, “Now that we’re back in season, we are definitely doing a lot more yardage. We just started lifting again as well and doing more intense stuff. A lot more swimming, a lot more lifting.” As always, the swim team seems to be united behind one goal: winning the combined title in the Eastern Interscholastic Championship meet. Fowler said, “Winning Easterns last year was a big deal. We had never actually won the combined title before. We’ve won the boys, we’ve won the girls, but we had never won the combined before. It’s really hard to do. But we still want to be up there on the podium.” Fowler elaborated, “By the end of the fall term, we really want to be at a point as a team where we are ready to hit the intense training and step into our high school competitive season and just show everybody else who Mercersburg is. We want to have the trophy.” Previous Next

Rhiannon Myhre '25 < Back Spotlight on the Arts Showcase Rhiannon Myhre '25 Oct 7, 2022 This past Saturday, the Burgin Center for the Arts featured a showcase as part of Family and Alumni weekend to exhibit the work of the dancers, actors, and musicians since the start of school. The night included comedy skits performed by Stony Batter, pieces from the dancers, songs by the Jazz Band, and a show by the Magalia and Octet that welcomed back Mercersburg Academy alumni who had performed with these groups as students. Created, cast, choreographed, and performed all in a little over one month, the Arts Showcase was one of the first of its kind to be put on for Family and Alumni weekend. Maria Rihn ‘24, a member of Magalia, said, “I really enjoyed both taking part in and getting to watch the showcase, as it was the first time of the year that we got to really see the different arts groups performing. I’d definitely say that this showcase was different than any other performances I’ve been involved in with Magalia. The fact that we were able to sing with past members of the a capella groups made it all the more meaningful.” Bryan Morgan ‘07, alumnus, member of the arts department, and football coach, said, “I don't think any director would say they enjoy putting a performance together in a short amount of time… I know the start of the year has been challenging for me mentally with three quick performances with Chorale. I want our students to do well and always want them to be well prepared. And that takes time, period. Now, this is a big kudos to them! They buckled down and made it happen. The work they have put in to be prepared and perform beautifully should show everyone just how dedicated our students are to our Arts Programs. Solid performances aren't something that just happens because you want them to. You have to grind.” The grind of all these groups paid off. Dancer Cricket Tatone ‘24 said “It was great. I think an arts showcase is a really good idea to show parents all of the arts. They probably wouldn’t get to see a band or dance concert if their child was in chorale, so seeing the full span of the arts here is great.” Typically, only sports Performance Group Activities (PGAs) get a chance to perform during Family and Alumni weekend. This year, the Arts Showcase was included in the scheduling to give the Arts PGAs a chance to perform for their families. A resounding “Let’s do it again next year!” rang from all participating groups. Previous Next

Simon Brennan '26 < Back No -i- in team Simon Brennan '26 Nov 15, 2024 This season, Mercersburg’s Blue Storm football team demonstrated its resilience, unity, and unwavering commitment when faced with challenges on and off the field. A brand-new coaching staff, led by Head Coach Jamar Galbreath, and the addition of new players required a period of adjustment. The players pulled together and built a team dynamic centered on resilience, teamwork, and a shared determination. "Despite our record [1-6], the team did incredibly well this year," Galbreath shared. "In a season of a lot of change and adversity, the team did an excellent job of living up to a culture of being excellent community members, embodying a ‘next man up’ mentality, and being ready to play at a moment’s notice." Team members explained that the season was about more than just the score. Germany Johnson ’25 reflected on the team dynamic that developed, noting, “We had good chemistry and energy off the field.” For Johnson, the team’s dedication to helping less experienced players learn and adjust was crucial. “No one ever lost confidence, and everyone played to the best of their ability the whole way through,” Johnson added. For Jacob Bershatsky ’28, the experience of being part of the Blue Storm was quite unique. “I’ve played on a fair bit of sports teams, but none had a dynamic like this. I felt like we were all one big family looking out for each other,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the spirit of family and friendship. Max Friedman ’25 added, “From the freshmen to seniors, everyone came together to make this team awesome.” The team's composition has changed since last year. It now consists mainly of seniors and a few underclassmen. Captain Wyatt Parks ’25 stated, “This interesting dynamic puts a strain on captains to try and raise spirits and push everybody.” Despite the record, Parks expressed pride in his teammates’ progress and accomplishments, stating, “Linebackers like Reed Warner [’25] and running backs like Germany Johnson and Frank Bonsal [’25] had games where they put up crazy numbers. Although football is hard, [we] don’t let scores define how [we] individually played.” Jerry Wei ’25 echoed this sentiment, noting, “Football isn’t about wins and losses; it’s about learning resilience, discipline, and forming connections that can last a lifetime.” The football team, however, was bombarded with injuries across the season. Regardless, Warner appreciated the mentality and strength of his teammates, especially players like Wei, August Parks ’27, and Billy Quick ’25 for stepping up and substituting for their teammates despite having limited experience. Warner added, “Football isn’t an easy sport; everyone who made it to the end of the season, especially for [our] starters, truly worked hard.” Wei's reflections captured the overall sentiment among the players: “This season has been a blur of different challenges and incredible growth for the football team. From the first day of preseason, everyone on the team has shown a commitment to each other that goes way beyond the field.” While the record may not fully reflect the hard work and dedication, the season stands as testament to the team’s growth. In the face of adversity, the players built strong bonds. The team left the season with strengthened values and the relationships they’ve built along the way. Previous Next

Ava Guzic '25 < Back B-Mo returns to the "Burg Ava Guzic '25 Apr 18, 2025 ` Many Mercersburg Academy community members fondly remember former music teacher Bryan Morgan ’07 from his time on campus. Along with being a positive and upbeat personality, Morgan wore many hats, serving as the director of the concert band, jazz band, and chorale. He also taught Mixing Music classes and coached football. He left Mercersburg in 2023 after seven years to follow his dream of being a composer. Mercersburg continues to hold a special place in Morgan’s heart as shown by his highly anticipated return to campus on April 18 for the Save the Music Benefit Concert. He was encouraged to attend by Claire Chow ’26, an organizer of the event. “In November, my girlfriend and I met up with Chow for dinner one evening in NYC,” explained Morgan. “She told us about a benefit concert she was putting together and asked if we would be interested in performing in the concert. Unfortunately, my girlfriend wasn’t able to participate, but I was able to work it out in my schedule to come and perform.” Since leaving Mercersburg, Morgan has been living in New York City. “I work as a composer for both concert and media,” said Morgan. “That means I write music for live concert performances as well as for film, TV, video games, and similar projects. I am also a second year graduate student at New York University earning a master’s degree in Music Composition and Theory: Screen Scoring. I will graduate in May.” Despite his success, Morgan still remains deeply attached to the people and places that shaped him. Morgan recalled his time at the school fondly: “All of those evenings after Magalia and/or Jazz Band rehearsal, Mr. [James] Brinson and I would walk back to our homes together and talk. We would chat about anything and everything. He is such a wonderful person and a great friend.” These everyday conversations stuck with Morgan even after he had left. “It makes me realize how spoiled I was to get to see him every day. I miss it!” In an interview for Shoutout LA, Morgan said “I love community. Meeting people is one of my favorite activities in life…I enjoy collaborating with others and being a part of something bigger than myself.” In an effort to continue building his community, Morgan has traveled all over the country. “I’ve been putting in a lot of work to keep building my community, attending conferences and networking events in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and of course in New York City.” About his motivations for returning Morgan said, “I’ll always be an advocate for music education, but more importantly, I’ll always do my best to support my former, current, and future students. This concert meant a lot to Chow, and I really wanted to be there for it.” Morgan will be performing alongside the Mercersburg Academy String Quartet in the concert. “I’m performing one of my music cues with MASQ for a short animated piece, and it hit me the other day—this was actually the first piece I had professionally recorded after leaving Mercersburg and moving to New York.” he explained. “I think it’s really cool to be able to bring a little piece of that journey back to Mercersburg. It feels pretty serendipitous!” Previous Next

Simon Brennan ’26 < Back Painting ’26 Simon Brennan ’26 Last Sunday, Mercersburg’s senior class came together for its first official senior tradition: Paint the Numbers. The senior class kicked off Spirit Week by leaving their mark at the Davidson Gate and concluded the event entirely covered in white and blue paint. For many seniors, the experience exceeded expectations. "It was way more fun than I expected. I was not prepared to be so covered in paint," said Ella Blanco ’26, who spent an hour afterward trying to remove paint from her hair. "I think I saw a different side of people, which was fun." The tradition carried emotional significance for students who had watched previous senior classes participate. Jessica Dang ’26 reflected, "Walking to paint the numbers, Kamden [Jenkins ’26] and I reminisced on our freshman year, seeing the seniors with blue paint on them. We've always talked about Paint the Numbers and now we just experienced it. It feels surreal, and this is the first senior tradition, which makes me emotional." Barbara Gamboa ’26 echoed this sentiment. “To be able to finally [participate in] the senior tradition that I’d been watching for three years.” The paint-splattered clothes become a badge of honor. "What made this the [most memorable are] the clothes; the paint is never going to wash out,” Gamboa remarked. William Choi ’26 added, “It gave us memories and photos that would last us a long time.” Some remarked on the deeper meaning of the tradition. "I really liked how with all the colors we truly felt as if we were in the driver's seat, as [Class of 2026 Grade Dean Andy] Brown would put it," Choi reflected. Despite the chaos inherent in the tradition, the evening ran smoothly, reported Student Council members who helped coordinate the tradition. "It was very successful and flawless. People were very respectful and there were no issues," said Class President Cole Piraino ’26. Class Historian Lareina Wang ’26 agreed, noting, "Overall it went pretty well; everyone seemed like they had fun." Brown, in a moment of reflection, reminisced on his experience over the past three years. "Being a grade dean to the Class of 2026 is one of the highlights of my job," Brown said. "They are a great group of kids, and I have been amazed by their growth over their time here. I am so excited for them to have a strong senior year, and I look forward to all of their future accomplishments and impacts." Brown offered advice to the senior class: "Life is full of chapters; continue to write your Mercersburg chapter and enjoy the time," he said. As the Class of 2026 moves forward through its senior year, Paint the Numbers serves as both a beginning and a reminder. It marks the start of a series of traditions that will define their final months at Mercersburg. Previous Next

Will Tutt’s 25 < Back Will’s would watch Will Tutt’s 25 Nov 13, 2023 During the summer, I was introduced to two of my new favorite movies, 12 Angry Men and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington . In these two films, the audience sees how being passionate for society and the country they live in can improve the lives of others. In 12 Angry Men , Juror Number 8 fights for the rights of an 18-year-old boy on death row. The jurors have to come to a unanimous decision about whether the boy should die or not. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington details how a newly elected U.S. senator fights for the beliefs of the American people through a very passionate filibuster that lasts day and night. In these two movies, the vision of having passion for what you love is apparent, and the passion in people to fight for what they know is right is stronger than any other. These movies convey the idea that people should begin fighting for what they believe in with strong force and sound reasoning. An argument where a person only screams at another with no intent of listening to the other’s views in no argument... it's a fight. If you are truly enamored of your own view, be open to others. Listen to the people with whom you disagree with the same passion you feel for your own argument. Control your fiery spirit and turn it into a more powerful method of communication. The eagerness to do something because deep down in your soul it feels like the right thing makes your ability to commit yourself to that movement much stronger than any other. These movies are a perfect example of the patience people can have for other people; they are also told through beautiful cinematography and amazing story building. The brief context that I provided does not give justice to the truly incredible creations that are 12 Angry Men and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington . Where 12 Angry Men shows a great example of fighting for what is right and Mr Smith Goes to Washington shows you a beautiful display of passion one can have for his country and people, both films are worthwhile for everyone to watch. Previous Next