Student influencer Mari Edler reveals how she uses social media to encourage creativity
One of the Seven Social Standards that The Social Institute believes in is: Finding Your Influencers. This means surrounding yourself with positive role models who support you and encourage you to play to your core. To help students find these positive and credible influences, we began our Student Influencer Program. Each week we select a different student to take over our Instagram and highlight how they act as a positive influence and inspiration in their communities.
This week, we are excited to introduce Mari Edler. Mari is a student artist based in Southern California! She is 17 years old and a rising senior at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. Looking to the future, Mari is planning on double majoring in college for art and science and hopes to pursue a professional career in a creative field. As a soon-to-be senior in high school, Mari is very proud to be entering her 13th and last year of Girl Scouts, ranking as an Ambassador. She is recently was awarded her Girl Scout Gold Award project, the highest award a Scout can receive. For her project, she has created a program called Mari’s Mindful Masterpieces! This is an Instagram account that was made to show parents of young children ways to do open exploration art with their kids at home. Open exploration art is a form of art therapy that gives many benefits to children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. More information and tutorial videos can be found at Mari’s Instagram: @mindful_masterpieces_goldaward! Aside from Girl Scouts, Mari is a part of National Charity League which is a Mother/Daughter service organization. She recently had the honor of being elected as Senior Class Co-President for her final year! In the future, Mari is most excited to lead her amazing chapter in making a positive impact in her community!
Recently, we interviewed Mari to learn more about her and how social media impacts her life. Here is what she had to say:
What do you value about yourself or others?
Something I value a lot is new perspectives. We all have our own stories, experiences, and skillsets, but bringing them together to form new ideas can create incredible results. I believe the best teams are made up of a diverse group of people from many backgrounds.
What are your personal goals?
I’m currently working on my Girl Scout Gold Award project, the highest award a Scout can receive. For my project, I’ve created a program called Mari’s Mindful Masterpieces! This is an Instagram account that was made to show parents of young children ways to do open exploration art with their kids at home. Open exploration art is a form of art therapy that gives many benefits to children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. More information and tutorial videos can be found at @mindful_masterpieces_goldaward !
What are the things you try to accomplish each day?
Every day I try to read at least a few pages of a book. I used to read a lot as a kid, but it became harder as I got older. I realized how much of a positive impact it has on me, and now I’m building better habits to make it a priority.
What or who inspires you most?
My fellow artistic creators on Instagram. Throughout my years of making art, it has always been so inspiring to see the tens of thousands of people who work with all different mediums and styles of art. The many accounts I follow help me to create new ideas and teach me about different avenues I can explore.
How has social media acted as a positive influence on your life?
Social media has allowed me to share my art with the world. For a long time, I ran a personal art account on Instagram and now I’m switching over to a new one this summer. It let me connect with fellow artists and gain advice from more experienced creators.
Of our Seven Social standards, which one would you most resonate with and why?
My favorite is “Use Your Mic for Good.” The best thing we can do in a society where the media is filled with negativity is to bounce back with positivity. It is our job to raise others up and promote what’s good in the world, not tear each other down. I think if students use their mic for good, it would create a much healthier and happier social environment.
If you could go back and talk to your younger self, what advice would you give to her about navigating social media or social relationships?
The biggest thing is to be kind and cautious. Always remember that everyone is going through challenges and the best thing you can do is to be compassionate. In addition, always be wary of random people who message you or comment on your posts. The best way to prevent this is to set your account to private. Although it means fewer people will see and like your posts, it’s in the best interest of your safety.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.