Carrying Stories Part One

On November 19, 2021., Ms. Santos had periods 1, 2, and 6 working the process of the Carrying Stories project.

by Jazzy Alvarado

Ms. Marina Santos is an English teacher at Fresno High School who started the Carrying Stories art and writing project. Carrying Stories is an art-based project that she started because she felt her students needed motivation since everything was virtual. Ms. Santos wanted a project where her students had the liberty to be creative while doing something meaningful. She designed Carrying Stories as a way for her students to be able to share their stories and be heard while creating beautiful art. “I wanted to create a project where students could use multiple modalities that was also hands-on,” she shared. 

Carrying Stories is a small significant part of someone’s personal story with a butterfly that best represents them. The idea behind the butterfly is to show how they used their struggles to transform themselves into a better and stronger person. This project is not only an insightful form of expression, but also a way for students to have fun with art. Each butterfly carries a story, the story itself represents the beauty of a person on the inside and the actual butterfly represents the beauty on the outside. With Covid-19 being an ongoing issue, Ms. Santos believed art was the perfect way to uplift students about the situation.  

Fresno High is stereotyped, and it is believed that the students here are unmotivated and unproductive. Ms. Santos created Carrying Stories to prove everyone wrong and show them that Fresno High is filled with excellent students. “I want them to know our students for active learners who are positive role models who have a story to share and that we are academic,” she explained. The overall goal for the project was for students to feel heard in a way that was creative and representative of their personal identity. She wanted to give her students the chance to show that they are more than what they seem. and that there is always a deeper meaning under the surface.  

Ms. Santos believes the Carrying Stories project took on a life of its own and that her students enjoy doing it. She says so far, the project has been running smoothly and she receives lots of positive feedback. She is deeply passionate about this project, and she hopes it will soon start to receive more recognition. “I want the community to say Fresno High is a great school and learning does happen here,” she declared. She wants to encourage and motivate more people to help beautify the community.  

Fresno High School's International Baccalaureate Programme held a community advisory meeting on October 21, 2021 to gather the feedback of community and neighbors as Carrying Stories continues to create interactive opportunities.

Back in October, the IB student/artwork was at the Mst Gallery for the October Arthop and then headed over to The Big Fresno Fair for display in the Junior exhibit.