Published Thursday, May 01, 2008 2:05 PM
Updated Thursday, May 01, 2008 2:06 PM

 

Art keeps student out of trouble

Snuggled among 500 or so pieces of artwork by Berkeley County students on display two weeks ago at Northwoods Mall, a pastel picture of a pink lily boasts bright colors against a slate gray background. As shoppers passed, some stooped to look at the magnified depiction.

Orange hues blend into pink petals, and green foliage contrasts the perfectly centered flower. To passersby, the pastel lily may represent a true-life flower. To Sangaree Middle School student Brad'lee Herian of Summerville, it represents a life changing moment, when he decided to stop being a classroom disruption and become a more productive student.

Halfway through the current school year, Herian had racked up 18 referrals. He was in danger of being expelled. Though Herian did well in school and sports, the referrals were from clowning around in class.

Herian's mother, Susan Mullen, was contacted regarding her son's impending expulsion.

"(The bad behavior was) just because of the bad choices he was making," Mullen said. "You do get a little frustrated when you're trying to teach them values of life and they think they know everything at thirteen."

Herian has consistently gotten in trouble since the sixth grade.

"I've been getting in trouble all my life," he said.

Mullen sat down with Herian -- as she had done on many prior occasions -- and told him he needed to buckle down. And, to Herian's teachers', mom's and principal's surprise, he did.

"I just straightened up," Herian said.

Herian's teachers began to take note.

"I'm just shocked over (the transformation)," art teacher Barbara Richardson said. "I keep telling him, 'You're not the Brad'lee I know.' Maybe he just decided to take things more seriously."

As Herian began to focus on classwork, Richardson had a dream that he drew a picture of a flower and sold it for money. She told him, and he began work on his pastel lily.

While working on the picture, Herian began to pull ahead in his other studies by finishing work ahead of time, which allowed him extra time in Richardson's class.

"(The flower) was so opening for him," Mullen said. "(Richardson) has really opened it for him and allowed him to see what he can accomplish."

Herian wasn't always an art lover. Mullen said it was difficult to get him to focus after school, and Richardson lamented he had once tried to transfer out of her art class last year.

"He didn't care for my class," Richardson said. "He couldn't really focus. He was a behavior problem, to be quite frank."

But, now Herian loves art class.

Though he is a natural artist, Herian still can be frustrated by drawing. However, instead of letting it set him back, Herian just moves on to the next project. Currently, he is working on an ocean scene on a large piece of mat board.

Herian's lily has been removed from the mall. Mullen is hoping the lily will come home and she can frame it. However, Mullen said she wouldn't mind if the school kept it either.

"I know he's got an awesome future if he realizes what he has," Mullen said.