■ Viral kindness
Digby artist’s Facebook post goes viral with over 281,000 shares
When Tiffany Barrett painted a mural at Digby Elementary School using an inspirational quote she had come across, she didn’t expect the viral response when she posted it. This photo of her son Riley that she took standing next to the mural had been shared on Facebook more than 281,000 times at our press deadline on Monday.
Tiffany Barrett started painting the halls of Digby Elementary School three years ago.
“I just started painting and I didn’t want to stop,” she says.
She paints quotes in the bathrooms, she paints teacher’s doors and she paints murals on the walls.
“It all started as a way to inspire the kids,” Barrett explains.
After finishing a painting she always posts a photo of it to Facebook.
Usually her pictures get close to 50 likes from friends, family and faculty of the school.
Recently, she painted a quote on a school wall that she found on Pinterest by Bryan Skavnak. After posting it online she couldn’t believe the response.
“It just sky rocketed, and I still can’t understand how.”
Barrett’s photo on Facebook went viral.
As of the morning of April 16, a photo she took of her son standing in front of the quote was shared 281,558 times.
And the numbers keep climbing.
“I’m shocked, I never thought I would receive this much attention.”
She’s received messages from strangers in Hong Kong, England, the United States and all over the world, complimenting her piece.
“The most rewarding part of this all is the outpour of support this is getting. It’s a really positive thing for the town, the kids and the school,” she says.
Barrett was previously involved with Home and School at Digby Elementary and she’s also a cross- ing guard there.
Bryan Skavnak, who lives in Minneapolis, runs an initiative called ‘Be the Nice Kid,’ where he encourages kids, parents and teachers with positive thinking. He’s since messaged Barrett, thanking her for sharing his quote in such a positive way and shared her photo on his own Facebook page.
Skavnak wrote the quote for a group of his golf students in 2011.
“Some kids are smarter than you, some kids have cooler clothes than you, some kids are better at sports than you. It doesn’t matter. You have your thing too. Be the kid who can get along. Be the kid who is generous. Be the kid who is happy for others. Be the kid who does the right thing. Be the nice kid.”
Barrett is currently planning her next masterpiece.
Darren Porter, vice-principal of Digby Elementary, is thankful for all the hard work Barrett puts into the school.
“We’re privileged to have a lady
Tiffany Barrett’s photo of the quote mural on Facebook went viral. As of the morning of April 16, a photo she took of her son standing in front of the quote had been shared 281,558 times.
who wants to do so much for our school.”
Porter enjoys all the paintings Barrett has done, including the one on his office door of the many ties he wears. Porter doesn’t know how the Facebook post went viral, but he’s happy to see Barrett getting recognition.
“This is just one of many, but it seems to be a lot of people’s favorite.”