As the bristles of a paintbrush touch the cold, white concrete walls of Westerville North High School, seniors are filled with a sense of eagerness. With each stroke of paint, the mural becomes alive before their very own eyes.
The school’s walls that have housed student’s education and held many memories are now being transformed into a canvas for their creativity. This magnificent mural reflects every senior’s personality and adds their own personal touch to the school. They are starting off a tradition that’ll be a testament to future graduating classes as a symbol of their own collective legacy.
Before this idea was brought up, the initial proposal was to paint a senior parking spot. This idea ended up being denied at the district level, as it would require very expensive upkeep to maintain it every year.
Mia Richards (2024) shares her thoughts on the denial of the parking spots. “I was disappointed, but like I get it, it’s very expensive,” Richards said.
Another senior, Sarah Harvey (2024) contradicted this thought, “Well the thing for me is I can’t drive,” Harvey said. Harvey wouldn’t have been able to participate in this project in the first place. So a new, memorable and inclusive activity was needed.
The idea of painting a senior mural was put in place and on Jan. 27, 2024 the seniors started painting.
“I mean for people like me who can’t drive, I think [the mural was] a very good replacement,” Harvey said. As draft sheets were passed out to seniors, they were given the opportunity to think about what they wanted to leave behind on the walls of this school.
It came easy to some, “I kind of just pulled something from my childhood, I did like Charmander from Pokemon,” Richards said. “I grew up watching Pokemon. I still play the game. So I thought that was a fun idea.”
For others, it helped them reflect on the people they care about. “Me and my best friend Sophia, ever since she gave me this, I think it was sophomore year or junior year. She gave me this necklace of a moon and she had a sun. And that’s kind of how our relationship is, we’re completely opposites. But, we go together,” Harvey said.
However, others needed time to figure out what exactly they wanted to paint, Simiya Johnson-Hunter (2024) was one of them. “I just like scrolled Pinterest for a long time,” Johnson-Hunter said. “At first I thought I needed to do something that, you know, really represents me. I [then] realized that it doesn’t really matter at all, it’s just a little painting.”
After the seniors thought of their perfect ideas for their mural drafts, they turned them in and awaited the painting day. The act of painting a mural made them reflect on the fact that they’re leaving the school behind as well as the memories made within. Acknowledging how scarily fast this school year felt to seniors was a commonality among many.
“I literally was just thinking about the fact that the first semester went by so fast, I can’t even comprehend it. And we’re already into February. It’s crazy,” Harvey said.
Richards also felt the same about how quick this school year has been. “I literally remember the first day of school like so vividly. I can’t believe we’re halfway through. It’s going by too fast.” Richards said.
As these past couple of months seemed to slip through the hands of many seniors, they will proactively try to make these last few months last.
“I think I’m going to continue trying things that I wouldn’t so I don’t regret anything once I graduate,” Johnson-Hunter said. Other things seniors listed as tasks to accomplish to make the most of these last few months, were to talk to more people and to go out and be a part of more events and activities.
While trying to slow down and savor these last few months, Harvey, Richards and Johnson-Hunter reflected on what exactly high school has taught them. They touched on the life skills they picked up along the way that will help them form lives and personalities after they graduate.
Richards’ experience completing assignments while balancing other things helped her gain an important life skill. “[High School] definitely taught me how to balance my work life and my emotional life. I would definitely use those like management skills [learned from prior classes],” Richards said.
Harvey learned that while others can be completely different from you, it shouldn’t be a hindrance towards connecting with them. “Just because you’re different from other people with values, beliefs and morals, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get along. So like all of my friends we have totally different beliefs and totally different morals but they’re still my best friends and we still get along super well,” Harvey said.
Johnson-Hunter concurred this thought as she also learned to step out of comfort zones more in life, regardless of personal feelings, as it could open one up to many opportunities. “It’s good to step out of your comfort zone. And to like, you know, just do things that you wouldn’t normally do and talk to people that you wouldn’t normally talk to,” Johnson-Hunter said.
As high school’s end looms over the heads of many students, so do the worries brought by the future, since it is an unknown path that could possibly be really bad. The present seems so comfy to all while the future is a scary unknown that causes a lot of concern.
The world can feel like a terrifying place when one doesn’t have much experience within it. “I have no clue how to manage my money or how to do anything with it. I don’t even know what taxes are and like, and like, school isn’t like taught me any of that like, and I love school. Don’t get me wrong, but like that’s just the only thing that I kind of despised by myself, like I’m not prepared at all to go into the world,” Harvey said.
While some are worried about what right action to take and if that said action would have a negative outcome. “To [go to] college and pick the wrong major and then like, not get a job after college and like, not like making money.” Johnson-Hunter said. Furthermore, money problems are also a recurring theme, “[To] afford living like the economy is like crazy right now.” Richard said.
Although the future may feel scary and uncertain, the lessons and people gained in high school can help prepare us for what lies ahead. “I have like, great people around me to like help guide me,” Richard said.
This act of leaving behind a legacy on the walls of Westerville North will allow for all students past, present and future a space to remain attached to these kinds of reflections.
