(above) Kaitlyn O’Neill, Natalie Piskadlo, Emma Czeh, and Samantha Domenick pose in front of their mural which says “I’m not beautiful like you, I’m beautiful like me.”

Carl H. Kumpf Students Paint Inspiring Mural Service Project

Four eighth graders from Carl H. Kumpf Middle School in Clark came together to work on a mural for their National Junior Honor Society Service Project. This Service Project entails citizenship and time spent on doing good for the community around us.

“I’m not beautiful like you, I’m beautiful like me,” were the words that flourished across a long stretch of the seventh grade hallway. Kaitlyn O’Neill, Natalie Piskadlo, Emma Czeh, and Samantha Domenick worked through their recess times and often after school for roughly five months to beautify the space. They felt that they wanted to send a very large inspirational message to all the students in the school.

When asked what the message was about, the girls stated, “You shouldn’t compare yourselves to others because you are beautiful in your own way.” Kaitlyn O’Neill, the initiator of this project, added, “We want kids to realize that they do not need to compare themselves to others. It is a constant reminder that they are special and unique.” After the girls finished, they painted their names on the bottom corner of the mural, making their permanent mark for the school.

Tom Peitz, the art teacher of Kumpf School, commented “I am so glad that we have inspiring students to not only beautify the school, but to use that space in a positive way. Middle school is the tough years in our students’ lives and this message is important for all of them. I welcome more projects like this.”

Suzanne Hamilton, the NJHS advisor stated, “I’m so proud of this group for choosing a service project that benefitted the school community. At the start of the school year, I explained that the best way you could give back to others is by giving your time. This group of girls nobly chose to donate a lot of their time so that they could impact their peers in a positive way.” The mural will continue to be a permanent part of the school for years to come.

Submitted by Christine Casale Broski

Photo by Clark Public Schools