On an ordinary Tuesday night in Wheelwright Hall, a group of proctors shuffled into the common room wearing khakis, button-down shirts, and slightly crooked wigs. Each had come dressed as Brandon Hew, the Wheelwright dorm head, complete with their best imitations of him. The room quickly filled with laughter as more residents gathered to watch the scene unfold, and even the real Hew couldn’t help but smile.

On Feb. 14, students streamed into Grainger Auditorium, welcomed by the sounds of soft cultural jazz and the scent of steeping tea. Tables lined up with intricate decorations celebrate the many cultures represented at Exeter. Hosted by the International Student Alliance, International Tea is an opportunity to explore the school’s global community through tea, food, and traditions, as well as a way to relax with friends.

Speaking confidently out of Phillips Church, Alex Trotman delivered a beautiful meditation that weaved the journey of his hair, with the gratuity of his barber, Kurt. Titled, “Luscious Locs,” Trotman’s well crafted story brought together family, gratitude, and hair. From Alex’s first memory of throwing up on his barber during one of his regular haircuts to dyeing his hair bright green during the pandemic, Trotman guided fellow Exonians through the evolution of his relationship with his hair throughout his life.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, a group of student attorneys and witnesses traveled to the University of New Hampshire to represent Exeter at the New Hampshire state mock trial tournament. All three of the Academy’s teams –– A, B, and C –– attended, their efforts the product of months of intense preparations, readings, and memorization of details.

On Thursday, Jan. 29, the Associate Director of the Library, Beth Rohloff, emailed all PEA students about a new student leadership opportunity: the Library Emissary. This new role is for students hoping to “help make a positive impact on the library and their fellow students who use the library,” as described in the email.

At a boarding school where everyone is busy all the time, an Exonian’s dorm room can become one’s source of solace and quiet. Over an academic year, one’s room becomes a museum of their time spent at Exeter, while providing a space for expression without judgment. Yet once September rolls around, students walk into another, often small, slightly dingy box, starting a new canvas for the next 10 months.

At PEA, the first thing that is taught to preps, even before Harkness, is the three S’s: sleep, social, and school, and how hard it is to have all three. This appeals to countless students at PEA, who are either sleep-deprived or haven’t finished their English reading for the night. So we arrive at the question: Is balance really possible at PEA, one of the most academically oriented boarding schools in the world? Is it possible to have a healthy sleep schedule, loads of friends, and a high GPA?

The Student Council Executive Board elections for the 2026-2027 school year recently concluded. Having served as a student council representative for four years through elementary and middle school, I witnessed multiple election processes, listened to countless campaigns, and observed the policies adopted and activities planned by each board. A pattern emerged among these observations; gaining student council positions gradually became a designated path, a uniform roadmap to success.

It was 1:53 a.m. My lights were off, but my screen was still bright. Just one more video. My finger kept scrolling on the screen. My eyes were sore, eyelids heavy, but my brain didn’t want to stop. You might call me another screenager in the era of the internet, and I was addicted to the phone itself. But looking back, I discovered that I scroll for the same reason I race from block to block all day. If I keep my attention moving, my brain never has to land anywhere long enough to feel what it’s actually facing.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, the girls’ varsity basketball team kicked off their Valentine’s day with a fierce game against Holderness School. Though the team was not able to secure a win, losing 39-58, the second half of the game was played with great intensity, displaying determination and admirable team play.

In December of 2025, Australia passed a law that limited social media use for children under 16. Any accounts the children already had were deleted, and they are blocked from creating new ones. This ban extends to apps such as Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Reddit. All across the world, legislators are now considering following in their footsteps.

On a chilly Wednesday afternoon on Feb. 4 in the William Boyce Thompson Field House, senior Dana Mussulman etched his name into Phillips Exeter Academy’s athletic hall of fame. Clearing 14-01.00 in pole vault, Dana Mussulman surpassed Cameron Hawley ‘79’s longstanding mark of 14-00.50, setting a new Exeter program record.

On Feb. 5, dozens of young girls from the community came to campus to participate in Exeter's first National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Smiles and laughter filled the athletic complex as young girls practiced and competed in everything from field hockey to volleyball and everything in between. Exeter athletes demonstrated what it really means to put Non Sibi into action, as they volunteered to lead this event. It created a space where younger girls had role models to look up to and show them what it means to be a girl in sports.

Welcome to the Winter Exonian Olympic Training 2026! This is a guide to all of the very important events that will be happening throughout the training. Without further ado, let the Exonian Olympic Training begin!

“What’s up bud how” [faucet water flowing] “was your day...goo” [electric toothbrush buzzing] I hear people showering and talking in the bathroom. But I am sitting here in my room with my history reading. How are they getting ready to sleep? They must have easy teachers.