Marlborough is currently working on its first duration mural after Sonia Hsieh Schumacher ’26 proposed the idea to the Wellbeing Council early this year. After participating in a summer internship with Window Between Worlds, a program that utilizes art as a healing tool, particularly for individuals impacted by trauma, she was able to witness art’s effect on bringing communities together and drew inspiration to carry that very goal to Marlborough. From interactions with prisons and the Los Angeles United School District to heal trauma through art, Hsieh Schumacher saw the importance of continuing this line of work in the Marlborough community.
Each week, students are tasked with drawing or writing down important things or happy memories onto their advisory’s
respective puzzle piece. By the end of the school year, all of the puzzle pieces will be full and fit together perfectly, connecting the whole school together through the mural.
After working with Director of Education and Counseling Services Morgan Duggan and Wellbeing Representatives Dinah Yorkin ’25 and Libby Doris ’25, Hsieh Schumacher began creating the puzzle pieces that would connect together in front of the Center for Entreprenuership and Innovation for all of the students to see. She hopes that the consistency aspect of the project by working on the pieces with advisories weekly would create strong bonds between students.
Duggan is a major supporter of Hsieh Schumacher’s idea to merge creativity with wellbeing. Noticing that some students might not want to directly speak about mental health, shifting the focus from speaking to drawing or writing would allow more students to care for themselves.
“The journey and transformation that comes with continuing something every week is one main aspect of the art,” Hsieh Schumacher said. “The regularity of it reveals commitment and will further connect the Marlborough community.”
Because the project is tied to initiatives that already exist within the school in other mental health focused areas such as Peers Are Listening and the Wellbeing Council, the mural allows for collaboration between many students and creates a school-wide community.
Both Duggan and Hsieh Schumacher are looking forward to seeing the project after it has been completed, and seeing what form the student-led project will take in the years to come.
“I appreciate the fact that Sonia has taken the time and effort to successfully create a concrete plan for the mural, and provided the why behind the work of art,” Duggan said. “She had true thoughtfulness in collaborating with her peers to form a special project.”
