b'Inaneducationallandscape where personal identity and self-worth areincreasinglycentraltostudent well-being,thePiecesofPositivity affirmationpuzzlemuralprovides auniqueopportunitytomergeself-reflection with artistic exploration. This project, completed by a ninth grade art class, aimed to empower students by transformingaffirmationsintovisual expressionsthatcontributedtoa collectivenarrative.Themuralwas constructed from puzzle pieces, which weresanded,primed,andpainted with acrylic. Each student integrated a personalaffirmationintotheirdesign. The completed puzzles were assembled intoalarge-scalemuraldisplayedin the school, reinforcing the concept that individual voices contribute to a larger, interconnected whole.The project began with studentsselectingpersonalaffirmation statementsofself-empowerment, resilience, and encouragement. These affirmations became the foundation ofFigure 1. Students priming the puzzle pieces. theirvisualstorytelling.Toenhance theartisticdepthoftheirwork, studentsstudiedthirteenhistorical andcontemporaryartists,choosing one as inspiration for their background design.Theselectedartistsincluded KeithHaring,YayoiKasuma,Jeff Koons,TakashiMurakami,Mondrian, Kaws,RomeroBritto,AndyWarhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Basquiat, Jen Stark, AlmaThomas,andEnriquePicardo.Drawing inspiration from artists allowed studentstoengagewitharthistory whilepersonalizingtheircreative interpretations.TRENDS 202525'