On Wednesday, Feb. 26 students converged within the Black Box theatre for the third annual Open Mic/Poetry Slam to unmask their exceptional writing and performing abilities.

The rules were the same, the night kicked off with the open mic portion. Anybody was allowed to ascend the stage and perform. The open mic part of the poetry slam is a great opportunity for students who have never gotten on stage before to perform for the first time. “Bel Air students are the most talented in the county.” Mr. Taylor remarked.

Soon thereafter the slam commenced, where five students went head to head reading their poems for two rounds. After each individual poet went, five randomly chosen judges from the audience revealed their scores. The poet’s points were then added up after everyone had gone. Among the five slammers were Madison Tacka, Quinn Baumeister and Carrie George. Only one could have emerged victorious.

That student was junior Carrie George, who had taken second place in the first poetry slam on Oct. 9, but now claimed first.

The small Black Box theatre had been packed, resulting in a substantial increase in the amount of students that showed up in comparison to the last poetry slam. At the end of the event Mr. Taylor observed, “People left feeling as if their lives had been changed in an appreciable manner.”

Mark your calendars and come out for the fourth Poetry Slam scheduled for March26.