After students and staff came together on April 21-22 to paint a mural filled with flowers and positive affirmation, the main concourse gained a new space to help students feel heard and seen.
The mural was developed by the Ten Thousand Flowers Project. Lead artist and creator Tim Gibson launched the project in 2018 with a goal of painting 10,000 flowers across all 50 states.
Gibson’s vision is to create a mile-long painting filled with flowers.
He takes sections of this painting, and the community at the selected location has the opportunity to fill in the flowers in hopes of building community.
“The idea of it is getting as many people as possible, coming together and creating one thing that anyone can look at and take small ownership of their piece of work,” Gibson said.
The project was introduced by assistant principal Matthew Haines.
While the painting took place in April, the mural’s ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony was held on May 6.
Haines said that as he observed students painting the mural, he noticed the school coming together.
“There are groups of kids down there working together that would otherwise never be working on anything together,” Haines said.
Along with messages of unity, the mural conveys a sense of self-worth, helping students who are struggling with poor mental health or having a bad day remember that they are worthy and important.
To accomplish this, Gibson partnered with a nonprofit organization called WorthWhile, which is where Haines learned about the Ten Thousand Flowers Project.
WorthWhile is integrated into the mural, with a section called Words of Worth featuring one large flower that stands out, with words of affirmation on each petal.
The words are brave, enough, worthwhile, seen, heard, unique and you are.
Haines believes this is a great addition to Souderton that will help students feel less negative about themselves, with the hope that they will walk by the mural and remember their worth.
“It does focus on mental well-being and also the soundtracks that we play in our head that are oftentimes not positive,” Haines said. “The words of worth are meant to interrupt those soundtracks and then give you a new focus as far as having value.”
As freshman Chloe Culen was working on the mural, she noticed how the mural was going to have a lasting impact on Souderton.
“It’s something unique and different that we haven’t done in our school,” Culen said. “So, it’s branching out, and it’s going to become something that has a positive impact.”
As for Gibson, partnering with WorthWhile to create the Words of Worth section adds a deeper meaning to the mural.
“Being able to create a mural like this, at least behind a message of self-worth,” Gibson said, “[are] reminders that you are seen, you are enough and you are heard.”
One of the words within the flower is “unique,” and Haines values its inclusion because it helps students and adults look at themselves through a “positive lens.”
“You’re the only one that’s like you, that’s something to be celebrated,” Haines said, “and, oftentimes, we do not celebrate the uniqueness of each individual. In fact, a lot of times that’s used as a way to bully, control and harass.”
For freshman Eleanor Brewer, the Words of Worth flower represents self-worth for students.
“That you are enough and to spread awareness that you are more than what you think you are,” Brewer said.
Alongside freshman Ella Shipon, who was helping paint the mural, she believes the word “seen” is a great message.
“Everyone has a voice,” Shipon said.