Local students turn simple pieces of paper into a life-changing experience

A school project at Penta County's Career Based Intervention program is about to go public. The CBI program is for students at risk of not graduating. The juniors and seniors have been making artwork that will soon be on display in downtown Toledo.

It all started after a conversation about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida this February that left 17 people dead. The tragedy inspired the students, their teacher and one of her friends to do something positive to inspire others.

Most of the time in these Penta classroom is spent teaching the basics like math, science, social studies and English. But simple pieces of paper are helping teach some important life lessons this year, "When I first started I didn't think I'd be able to make one at all "

But Arianna Futey and her classmates have made more than 1,000 paper cranes, "Whenever you make origami you have to make sure the creases are nice or it doesn't work. It takes a lot of patience."

In just a matter of weeks, Arianna and dozens of other students mastered the art of making paper cranes, "I honestly love it. It is really peaceful to be able to sit down and build a crane. If I am having a bad day, it relieves my anxiety and stress."

Raymond Rock says all of the students embraced the project, and he's proud of what they've accomplished, "Everybody has been participating and putting their heart and souls into it, It's been awesome."

Just like the students, no two cranes are the same, and Raymond says that's part of the beauty of this project, "I'm really proud of everybody, not just myself but everybody who helped out and made this happen."

The project was inspired by the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. It's the story of a Japanese girl who died of leukemia after the bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. Before the young girl died she made paper cranes, and her wish was for peace.

Kerry Wellstein is the co-owner of Create Art Studio and Workshop in Perrysburg. She helped come up with the idea for the program and taught the teens how to make the cranes, "I explained the importance of sending a message through art It is a peaceful and beautiful way to get your message across. These are truly exceptional kids, and I have loved working with them."

The students worked on the cranes in between studies, "I wanted them to know they have a voice and they have life experiences that need to be shared. What they've gone through and their opinions matter. Here's a way to show people what you think and inspire others/."

Teacher Heather Hogrefe says it's been time well spent, "I like the idea of the students having a lofty goal and completing the whole process. I think they're feeling more confident about their place in the world."

Heather says the legend of the paper cranes is that if you make a thousand of them, your wish will come true, "The students made about 1,200 cranes, so our wish should come true. Our wish is for patience, change and peace in the world." A huge lesson about the power of teamwork and persistence, all from a small piece of paper.

The paper cranes will be taken to the Main Library in downtown Toledo sometime next week. They will be on display through the summer. The hope is that once they leave the library, the cranes can be shared at other places to help inspire others.