When budget cuts strip away funds for the arts, music, extracurricular programs, sports activities and classroom supplies, some people curse the darkness.
Others light a candle.
When I went to the Gilroy High campus last Saturday, I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard a mural was going to be painted by some students. When I got there, I found a picnic table lunch spread of hot dogs and root beer floats, great music blasting and a small group of dedicated students giving up four hours of their Saturday for beautifying the campus.
Gilroy High student Juan Davalos is known for his Zumba fundraisers which incorporate exercise and dance to help to raise funds for student activities. Sara Cedano raises funds to keep the award-winning color guard program going. Will Cho volunteers in support of the marching band.
GHS junior Jonahluis Galvez heads up the newest effort on campus: The Mustang Vision Project, the group of students who spent two months planning and executing a mural design that encourages continued education based on the school mascot of the Mustang.
These students and seven others have formed the Mustang Vision Project Committee.
“Mustang Vision Project is exactly what the name implies,” Galvez described. “We are just a group of students who have a vision for our school and are doing anything we can with the resources we have. Our main goal is to show that students are capable of making an impact on our school and our community even though we face the challenge of not having all the resources to do so.”
All supplies for their first big project – the mural – were either donated by the school or provided by the committee’s own members. Students expressed gratitude for a donation of $75 by Home Depot toward this project.
“I was actually surprised by how supportive people were,” Galvez said. “A lot of the adults were willing to do anything to help us.”
It was a rough start at the beginning on Saturday with projecting the design on the wall. The sun was too bright, and students couldn’t see the design on the wall well enough to begin penciling it in. One of the teachers, Mrs. Scettrini, brought out everything she could find on the spot, including colorful Mexican dresses to fashion a shaded canopy. Students were in awe of how much work she was willing to put in to help out, making numerous trips to and from her classroom to retrieve items.
“With support from staff and other students, we are able to make a lasting impression on those we effect and will continue to effect in the near future,” Galvez said
M.V.P. also brings treats to different teachers and staff each week to make them feel appreciated. The students envision ambitious future projects such as a big fundraiser to pay for new text books.
“We are really hoping to expand our projects to help other specific groups on campus that may need our help such as clubs or sports teams,” Galvez said. “We also want to raise money to provide school supplies for teachers who would otherwise use their own money to pay for the supplies.”
“It’s a big task,” Galvez says. “But with time and effort it’s possible. We have the versatility to bounce to help any Mustang in need, which includes the staff.”
M.V.P is thinking ahead. The committee has been purposely formed mainly of freshmen and sophomores. The reason behind this is the hope that they will continue the project when the upper classmen graduate. Also, almost half of those in the committee are not involved in leadership or other active groups. But they show a lot of potential.
“By giving younger members a purpose in their early years in high school, they can build up that passion and realize how much potential this group has,” Galvez said, sounding mature beyond her years. “I don’t want this to feel forced. People have to want to do something in order for M.V.P to be effective.”
Galvez’ father came out in support of the mural effort.
“I was really thankful that he came,” Galvez said. “I think he, alongside the other parents that came to help us were proud of the fact that we were making something that will probably be on campus for hopefully many years to come. It was priceless to see their reactions when it was complete.”
“I guess the spirit was always there,” Galvez said. “I never expected people to be so supportive but it turned out that they were all along. All they needed was a purpose to be useful and I guess that’s what our mural provided for them. The Gilroy community has some amazing people in it.
“We are lucky that our community thinks our project is worthwhile since it is something that we love. M.V.P kicked off with a good start and from how it looks like so far, it won’t go away anytime soon!”
