THE TRICOLOR

A colorful space incorporating blue, yellow, and red that visually illustrates the student’s mix of experiences and feelings as they navigate two different worlds. Blue is often associated with serenity and reflection, but can also evoke the melancholy and isolation linked to leaving home and adjusting to a new environment. Red represents the trials, sacrifices, and tensions faced along the way. Yellow, for its part, symbolizes hope, possibilities, and future success. These three colors directly echo the Congolese flag. In reference to the country of origin, the tricolor flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—which features these colors—holds powerful symbolic meaning for each hue: Blue symbolizes peace and hope for the nation; red represents the blood shed by the Congolese people in their struggles and sacrifices for independence and freedom; it also underscores their spirit of resilience; and yellow symbolizes the country’s abundance—particularly in terms of natural resources—while reflecting prosperity. This color also refers to a yellow star that symbolizes a bright future. Although these colors are brought together on the same surface, they do not remain distinct; they merge and interact. This demonstrates that a student’s journey is not linear—that is, positive and negative feelings coexist and jointly contribute to their development. Just as in the life of a living being, these various “energies” harmonize to foster growth. Consequently, this colored area becomes a symbol of progress—a place where differences meet, clash, and ultimately generate harmony, much like the student who merges their two worlds to move forward.