What Kind Of Difference Do You Want To Make?

From April to October of 2022, I worked a mural titled, "What Kind Of Difference Do You Want To Make?" It appears in a busy stairwell of my school and depicts the portraits of 72 inspiring individuals who have changed history and made an impact on the world. I included figures, such as Muhammad Ali, Frida Kahlo, and Welles Crowther.

The whole purpose of my mural was not only to explore a topic I'm passionate about, but also to open the conversation to my community. To start this project, I asked for the opinions of teachers and the student body, as well as did my own research, to decide who I should include in the mural. The wall is meant to celebrate individuals and their achievements, and to inspire people to ask themselves how they can make a difference. I aimed to connect to students, faculty, and visitors by provoking emotion and self-reflection through the people they are most inspired and represented by.
 

Working on my mural has been meaningful because of the impact it has had on my community–and myself. For five months, I arrived at school at 5:45 AM and left at 5:00 PM to work on it. I came in on professional development days when the only people in the building were teachers, and over the summer, my days off from work were spent chipping away at that wall. The scale of this project really pushed me to my limits, and I don't think I've ever worked so hard for something that mattered to me that much. 
 

What I’ve learned about myself in the process of creating the mural is that I can achieve anything I set my mind to as long as I’m dedicated and work hard. My excitement to work on the wall was unwavering throughout the whole process, and I’ve learned that if you love what you do, it will never feel like work.
 

What has been most rewarding is the positive response from my school community. I feel most fulfilled when I spot someone stopping on the steps to take in the mural and absorb its meaning. Creating this work has given me confidence in my potential to make a difference as an artist with a passion.