Portage High School senior Qamille Armour has left her mark on PHS in more ways than one. While her work graces the halls of PHS in mural format, overall, Armour has been a devoted art advocate for as long as she can remember, and her true passion began when she was in middle school.
“I had a teacher, Mrs.Shulz, who really influenced me and pushed me to dive deeper into my art. Then when I got to high school, I realized there were so many unopened doors to all of the different things you can do in the art world,” Armour said.
Her experience at PHS is no different. Armour noted that she continues to feel inspired and supported by Portage staff members, which continues to ignite her passion for art.
“The main thing I love about Portage High School is that there is a great support system, and there are people who want to see you be the best version of yourself,” she said.
Armour said she paints not only for the joy of it, but also because the hobby soothes her mentally.
“The thing I love most about painting is how calming it is. You can have a really bad day and pick up a paint brush and completely forget about everything,” Armour said.
Over the past year, Armour has painted three murals for Portage High School.
“I worked on the murals basically the whole summer. I went from summer school straight to painting the walls,” she said. “This was a very joyful experience for me. It was a great way to start my senior year. I made an ever-lasting impact on my school, and I also enjoyed all the people I got to work with.”
Armour has left a colorful mark on Portage High School, but she is also known to be a vibrant, bubbly presence among her classmates and teachers.
“I am very outspoken and enthusiastic. I can light up any room even when I’m having a bad day,” she said. “I try to make sure that when in my presence, at least one person has a good laugh and smiles.”
Although senior year has just begun, Armour is already looking toward her future and making big plans for herself and her craft. She dreams of being either an art teacher or an art director someday.
For college, Armour is on the hunt for the perfect fit.
“I’m currently stuck on and deciding between three schools to go to, but I’m looking for a school with a great art school in it. I want to go to a school that has a lot to offer me,” she said.
Her overall dream though, is to make an impact and succeed in a career path that is sometimes difficult.
“I hope that someday I will become something big in life. I really want to succeed,” she said.
Armour would like to thank a few PHS staff members for always supporting her throughout her high school days.
“I would like to thank Mr. Pat Mills, Officer Mike Steege, and Mr. Brian Jones. They have pushed me beyond my limits to make sure I can continue. They are always there and have supported me through everything in my life. I am very grateful for them, and I can’t wait to make them proud,” she said.
As Armour continues toward graduation, she keeps one thing in mind:
“Everyone is an artist at heart. You just have to work hard and practice to improve your artist skills. You have it, you just have to believe in yourself.”