About 7 months ago COVID became known and many of us had to quarantine for several months. Although this was a very difficult and unsure time for everyone, it was also a beautiful chapter of growth and learning for so many people. Being stuck at home all day long truly forced many of us to think out of the box and create new things. I have interviewed a couple of very talented students that have used their extra time to develop new creative hobbies!
Abigail Vangilder first learned to sew at nine years old. Her grandma taught her how on an old machine from the 60s. Abigail states, “I was intrigued, but never actually pursued the skill for many years until she passed away in 2017. Learning that she had left her old machine to be inherited by me, I understood the importance of continuing the passion for sewing and design that we had together.” When the pandemic started, she initially made masks for immediate family and friends. She put extra thought into making the masks as comfortable as possible while customizing them to fit each individual’s face. As more people tried her masks and realized how comfortable they were, they began urging her to sell her maks. She started selling by word of mouth but eventually converted to Facebook and Etsy.
Abigail says, “I think my masks have helped the community because not only are they
more comfortable for workers to wear during a long shift, I also offer around 100 different fabric choices so that everyone can still express themselves.” Her mom and aunt are speech-language pathologists and understand the importance of their clients being able to see phonics for correct therapy and development. Knowing this, Abigail has worked tirelessly to create a design for a mask with a clear vinyl window in the middle. These masks ended up going viral in the preschool teachers/SLP/caregiver community all across the country. She has even sold some internationally! Unfortunately, she did have a rough start selling her masks on Etsy, but after two months of hard work, she has a great system going along with cute packaging for every order! She continues to bless the community through her skills and talent and is on a mission to help in every way possible during this difficult time!
Secondly, I interviewed a very talented student, Leif Mortenson. Leif designs and makes longboards. He saw them on the internet and was inspired to create some of his own with the help of youtube. His friend Bebo found these ideas fascinating and agreed to invest in the business. The two boys decided to put Leif in charge of making the longboards while Bebo works with customers.
As far as making the longboards, Leif says the process is fairly easy. It requires five
pieces of a ⅛ inch maple veneer, wood glue, and a press to shape the board. Once the wood is glued together, he clamps it down in the press and allows it to sit for 48 hours. After that, he draws out a template of the shape of the board on paper and uses a jigsaw to cut it. Then, it's a matter of plenty of sanding. He uses a router to create smooth edges and then drills holes for the trucks and wheels. After that, he places the graphic on the bottom, sprays a clear coat across the board, and applies grip tape on top. Finally, he adds the trucks and wheels and it’s ready to be sold! Although he started the business three months ago and has only sold a few boards, he has found the demand to be high for his products and enjoys what he does.
These are only two examples of the many incredibly talented students that go to our very own schools! Although quarantine has been a very hard thing for most of us, it is important to recognize the amazing things that have come out of it. These students are such a good example of using their talents to bless and uplift others through this time.
Written by Brooklyn Edmisten
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