Meet Mercy Wideman: Girls’ Spotlight Columnist

At first glance, Mercy Wideman may seem to be a sweet, caring introvert, but in reality, this Spotlighter uses her cunning and exceptional skills to uncover the secrets of all those she interviews. Beginning another year as the Girls’ Spotlight Columnist, she has had the courage to join clay a second time, despite the dancing llama pandemonium of last year. Who knows what this year may bring to her column…

This year, Mercy begins her third year at TPS, taking English 2 and Christian World History. She describes herself as a night owl and Keeper of the Lost Cities fan with and obsession with the color purple. Additionally, Mercy loves writing stories and songs, and baking sweet treats for her family of six, which includes three older brothers. She is an accomplished world traveler with a record of 14 countries visited and three lived in. Her family has moved around over the years, first living in China, Thailand, and finally in Istanbul, Turkey, where Mercy now lives. Having been there for a while, she has developed a strong liking for Turkish food, especially dürüm, which she explains is a wrap filled with shaved seasoned meat called döner. As to her least favorite foods, Mercy admits a strong dislike of vinegar, also noting thoughtfully that no one in her family likes olives. One wonders if the next dark voice to haunt her column will turn out to be a terrifying giant olive.

Were Mercy Wideman to have any superpower, she would choose invisibility, “to sneak up on people.” Perhaps she has already acquired it … Has anyone wondered how she seems to know everything about her interviewees? Could it be that she spies on them beforehand to learn their darkest secrets? Surely, she doesn’t simply ask them questions. That would be far too easy.

Finally, Mercy’s advice to TPSers everywhere is summed up in one sagacious sentence: “Don’t procrastinate.” As many students well know from years of experience, this practice may seem to be appealing at first, but it does not pay off.  Heed Mercy’s advice, and beware the temptation of procrastination!

Photo Credit: Mercy Wideman