Unsung Hero Project

Purpose:

1. To promote positive role models in the lives of students

2. To empower students to stand up for what they believe is right

3. To create a personal work of art based on students’ interpretation of an Unsung Heros’ character and actions;

4. To reflect on your experiences by writing an impact paper that articulates your personal journey and interprets their work for the viewer.

What inspired you to choose to portray your heroes’ story?

Dorothy Buell was an activist who fought to protect the Indiana sand dunes from industrialization throughout the 1900s. I chose Dorothy because her story is about perseverance and courage. During her life, women were only seen as wives and mothers that should spend all their time in the home taking care of everyone. Dorothy went against these outdated views and fought against giant corporations using her voice and actions. Dorothy’s story is inspiring because, like her, I love nature and the outdoors. My favorite pieces of artwork I create take inspiration from nature which is why I feel so connected to it. Dorothy loved the sand dunes, so she stood up for them when they were in danger. Fighting for conservation, especially during her time, is very difficult but Dorothy pushed through, something that I feel everyone should learn from. I chose Dorothy Buell as my unsung hero because her work helped the wildlife around her. She saved an area and got nothing in return, yet she did it anyway because she believed it to be the right thing to do. Dorothy’s story should be remembered by everyone because it proves that advocating for your beliefs is very important.

How has the process of creating this work of art changed your outlook on life?

This project has taught me the importance of sharing others' stories. I had never heard of Dorothy Buell before this project, this amazes me because her actions saved an entire sand dune from destruction. Dorothy helped turn the Indiana Sand Dunes into a national park, meaning that they would never be at risk of industrialization ever again. Dorothy saved the dunes to help the plants and animals keep their habitat. Dorothy also helped save the dunes so that they could be enjoyed for years to come. Through this process, I learned lots about campaigning and petitioning for nature conservation. This makes me wonder just how many other beautiful areas have been saved by people like Dorothy Buell. The need to share stories so that they can be documented in time is very important and I will definitely continue the effort to share heroes' stories, especially Dorothy Buell’s.