Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Normally marking up a school bathroom wall is strictly prohibited, but that wasn't the case at South Kilbourne Elementary Friday.
It all started when Ashlye V. Wilkerson came across a post on social media that got her thinking.
Wilkerson says, "I saw a picture of a school in Texas, and the gentleman was painting empowering quotes there. I think it was a middle school, in their middle school bathroom, and I thought this is amazing."
That post prompted her to put the word out that if a local school wanted some inspiring messages in their bathroom walls she wanted to make it happen.
She says, "I posted on my Facebook page, 'hey tag a principal who may be interested.'"
One response came from an employee at South Kilbourne Elementary School. And the principal there, Samantha Carlisle, thought it was a great idea .
Carlisle says, "If you're going to get into trouble, it's going to be places where adults can't necessarily see you. So by having those messages to say we believe in you, sparkle, shine, do all those types of things in kid friendly language, it helps them to actually live up to those standards."
The messages are simple things like "spread kindness" and "believe in yourself." But the impact is meant to promote positivity, and maybe help give a boost to a student that day, that hour, or even in that instant. And that could mean all the difference.
Carlisle explains, "Sometimes children come in and they could be upset in the morning. Or something could've happened in the car on the way to school. So this is just a way to remind them that you don't have to stay in the space where you started. You can make your own space."
The spark that started with the idea of just one school, has ignited into a entire movement.
Wilkerson says, "It's a mission. So it was supposed to be a back-to-school project for one school, but now it's gonna be, get as many schools that would like the empowerment for their schools. Because at the end of the day, we want to empower our youth to be great."
She has been contacted by 10 other schools already — one all the way in Georgia. And it seems South Kilbourne Elementary was the perfect place to start.
Carlisle says, "We're a little school with big dreams. And so we always tell the children, dream big, and I think it really speaks to our internal message."
However, the old bathroom rules still apply — removable decals only.
"You're not supposed to do anything that would be permanent," jokes Samantha. "No, no scratching your names, none of that."
The messages started on the bathrooms at South Kilbourne Elementary, but Wilkerson is currently looking for volunteers to help put all those decals up at every school that has contacted her. Because, one school project turned into 10 schools, so she's going to need a few extra hands.