JENKS -- The world takes center stage at the Olympics, uniting all countries together as one to showcase what it takes to be a top athlete.
Differences are set aside as cultures come together to share their rich histories and honor the tradition of the winter games.
To celebrate, one area teacher decided to bring this sense of unity to his classroom, asking his students to create a "world flag."
It’s a project restoring faith in humanity.
“If we all come together hopefully there would be more peace, and no more wars,” Abigail Roop, a 5th grader at Jenks East Intermediate, said.
Jenks art students are helping others see the world through their eyes.
“I like to think that there is always going to be hope in the universe and on our planet,” another student said.
The instructions for the project are simple.
“We talked about how there is no such thing as a world flag, so if they had to design it, what would it look like and why,” Mike Cottongim, a Jenks East Intermediate art teacher said.
Inspired by the Olympics, students went to work, brainstorming and putting thoughts to paper.
“Each item on here, earth, the dove, the hands, even the background has a meaning to it,” McKenzie Robinson, a 6th grader at Jenks East Intermediate said.
The drawings were narrowed down to the top five finalists, Abigail Roop, Zo Mang, McKenzie Robinson, Alesha Castille, and Caleb Maddox. Their flags were chosen for exemplifying everything a future generation wishes to achieve.
I felt like if I drew this then maybe there would be peace on earth,” Mang, a 5th grader, said.
She drew two hands of different color holding a world that glistens.
“We are one together, together we are one,” Castille, a 6th grader said.
Her flag showcased an array of flags from every country pointing toward one world, where vibrant colors conquer.
“I also drew two silhouettes of a girl and a boy, and it's to show no matter what religion or race you are we are all human beings,” Maddox, a 6th grader said.
Another drawing shows the world in puzzle pieces, each one unique, but made to fit together as one.
“Instead of a bunch of fights there's going to be peace,” Roop said.
“The background is purple because purple means power and everyone has the power to do something,” Robinson said of her flag.
Each flag is a preview of what we can expect from our future leaders. A world where equality isn't something we fight for, but something we live by.
Of those top five flags, two will be chosen as winners. They'll be made into real flags to be displayed in the Jenks East Intermediate hallway.
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