On May 1, 2015, members of the Bernards High School student-body began the creation of the school’s new Peer Leadership Multicultural Mural. The mural, painted during all four lunch periods that day, was envisioned and overseen by Junior Holly Lippman.

Lippman, a current Peer Leader, was inspired to create the painting after her experience in the Peer Leadership program this year. “In my freshman group,” Lippman revealed, “I had the chance to work with four students from Ms. Gray’s bilingual class. Working with these great kids opened up my eyes and made me realize how awesome it is to work with people that have different experiences than you.” Because she felt that the bilingual students she met were often excluded from day to day life at bernards, she created the mural as a way to include them more. “We have been having an incredible time painting and there is a good mix of students helping during their lunch periods”, Lippman went on to say.

The subject of the mural, Holly states, is “the world and the diversity that the world has to offer”. To illustrate this diversity, Lippman and many others have been drawing symbols, flags, animals, and foods that represent as many countries and origins as possible.

This all being said, throughout the entire process Lippman has had one goal in mind. “The message that I hope to spread is that the world has a lot to offer,” Lippman said. “Students of BHS should appreciate the many differences between cultures, but more importantly recognize how similar we all are as humans”.

Holly, however, could not have done the mural without the help of many administrators, specifically Ms. Roser. Roser, intern to Peer Leadership head Mr. Grund; has been a major help to Holly throughout the entire process, from the conception of the idea to the painting of the mural itself.
It is students like Holly Lippman, with high goals and an adherence to taking action, that truly exemplify the high standards emplaced by Bernard’s Peer Leadership Program.