On October 26th, I attended a service event in a Westerville Elementary School where we painted multiple murals with the help of students. For three hours, I assisted the non-profit Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) tape off sections, distribute paint, and clean. We painted three separate walls. On two walls we painted purple trees and created laminated paper leaves with positive messages to attach to them. These messages could then be taken down when a student is having a bad day. On another wall we painted a hand with an uplifting quote on it. I am grateful to have contributed to a positive learning environment that surrounds the students with support. More schools should have murals like this, for color and positivity creates a more welcoming atmosphere that can facilitate comfort and excitement towards school that students can lack when they have had bad experiences.
This event relates to International Affairs because it is supporting an impactful Columbus non-profit that provides services for refugees and immigrants. The event is perfect for me to attend because I am passionate about art and social justice and painting a mural to support CRIS is a good combination of the two topics. Previously, I have painted other murals with CRIS and it has always been a valuable experience. I am happily exhausted and covered in paint at the end of every project. Another reason the events are always a valuable experience is they impact the way I look at my future career because this is exactly the type of work I want to be doing. After I participate, I look at my career with more hope and ideas for opportunities I can pursue. I also make valuable connections that can help me enter this field in the future.