At Kent School, one of the most exciting parts of the spring term is a yearly tradition known as Paranoia. Currently organized by Mrs. Shafer, the game has become a huge hit on campus, with around 300 out of 500 students joining in this year.

The idea of the game is simple but really fun. The night before it starts, every player gets assigned a secret “target.” From that point on, your goal is to find that person and stick a small sticker on them. If you succeed, they’re out, and you move on to try to tag their target in turn. This means everyone is constantly looking over their shoulder, trying to figure out who’s coming for them while also planning how to get their own target. It creates this constant sense of suspense, and walking to class or hanging out with friends feels more intense than usual.

What makes Paranoia so fun is that it pushes people to interact with others outside their usual friend groups. You might end up chasing or avoiding someone you’ve never really talked to before, which makes the whole experience more interesting and unpredictable. As Gabriel Costalas ’27 says, “It’s a very fun game that makes you meet new people that probably wouldn’t have talked to if it weren’t for this game.”

It also fits perfectly with the spring atmosphere at Kent. The weather is nicer, people are spending more time outside, and the game just adds to that energy around campus. “It definitely adds to the spring vibes,” says Kayla Otoo ’26. And as Mr. Austin says, “It’s a nice way for kids to burn off excess energy as the weather gets nice.” 

Overall, Paranoia isn’t just a game; it’s something students look forward to every year. It brings a mix of excitement, stress, and fun that makes everyday life on campus a lot more interesting and memorable, especially as the school year starts to wind down.