The Unity Day Exhibit primarily features works from “A Plum’s Promise”, a student initiated art exhibition exploring the relationship between societal structures and mental health led by sophomore Shin Ryu, compositions from students are also included in the exhibition. Although Unity Day has already passed, the Unity Day Exhibit has and will remain up in the school library for the next few weeks welcoming students to visit and learning about the themes carried forward throughout the exhibit and act as a gentle reminder of the values spoken of by the students who have spoken in Unity Day’s assembly.
Having visual arts included in this year’s Unity Day helps visually demonstrate what unity means to peers which helps share that message around the world, through all the personal narratives it depicts, each composition holds an element, an integral part of what it means to be themselves, and how important it is to embrace that difference.
Students can engage thoughtfully with the display by taking time to view the artworks and reflect on the ideas and perspectives communicated through each work, giving students a chance to actively participate in the themes taught by unity day. Viewing this exhibit can also encourage and allow students to contribute their own creative works in the following years on Unity Day.
“No matter what medium, art is such an important part of human expression that people have discovered,” sophomore Elenor Li said.
Unity day is an event dedicated to bringing and promoting kindness, respect, and inclusion within the school community made of students, teachers and staff. The purpose of the day is to celebrate and encourage the act of support amongst the school body, making it a great opportunity for students and staff to unify and support one another. The events of Unity Day gives a great opportunity for students to open up introspective conversations to discuss the importance of feeling accepted by the community. Unity day helps students recognize their impact on each individual and to use that power in a positive way.
“I think the format of having students speak directly about their particular experiences is very powerful and a great way to connect with students personally,” teacher Ms. Man said. “Art is a type of language that helps people to express themselves in ways that we are not able to verbally and it’s a way to communicate symbolically and also visually.”
Unity day allows students to celebrate the diversity of our campus, giving students from different backgrounds, interests, and perspectives a chance to share their individuality and embrace it as a highlight of our school community. Celebrations like Unity Day aim to boost and inspire students to maintain a welcoming environment for everyone and increase school spirit. By embracing Unity, students are encouraged to share even the smallest acts of kindness, to think about how they each individually can contribute to the school community.
Although Unity Day is only celebrated for a few days, students can keep its themes alive by remembering its message. Students are encouraged to take part in activities specializing in teamwork, empathy and kindness, it builds stronger connections between peers and teachers. These experiences can encourage students to branch out and communicate with others outside of their usual circles which leads to a greater sense of belonging throughout the school with the addition of potential new friends. The message of Unity Day shifts the school’s student interaction energy towards a positive outlook, which very much can be affected by the ripple effect and transform the school campus with simply a few acts of kindness that ends up filling the entire community.
