Project brings a little inspiration to student life

Hayleigh Bayee is hoping to make a difference in the halls at Columbia Falls High School. Taking a page from a project at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the junior has organized “180 Days of Inspiration.”

On the high school walls are small works of student art, each with a notable quote.

Bayee got the idea from artist Debi Strong, whose project “365 Days of Gratitude — An Art Journaling Project” are on the walls at KRMC.

“When I saw the abundance of little pictures with amazing quotes, I was truly inspired. I knew instantly the school could benefit from having something as inspirational as uplifting quotes,” she said.

So Bayee talked her fellow students in creating their own works.

So far, more than 70 pieces from students grace the walls and more should be coming this week, Bayee said.

She also said it’s important that students and staff are shown that there’s beauty in not being “perfect.”

“Nothing is ever perfect, and that’s OK,” she said. “Everybody needs a little boost of inspiration here and there. Life can be difficult.”

Bayee’s mom, Tawnya Smith, is a phlebotomist at KRMC, which is how Bayee saw the hospital artwork.

Bayee is a go-getter. She’s a member of the school’s speech and debate team, a cheerleader and competes in track. She wants to be a math teacher after college and hopes to someday come back to Columbia Falls and teach math.