While the majority of schools view art as just an elective, it’s been so much more than that for me. Probably one of the most important parts of my high school experience if I am being honest. I basically lived in the art room for the past four years. Each year, my love for art only kept growing. I spent my time creating and learning through creative projects that provided an escape from daily life and helped me understand myself. Art became more than a class to me; it felt like a place I could truly be myself and fully breathe.
Being in the art room is one of the few places where my mind feels calm. Whenever I’m creating art, it almost gives me a break from the world around me. Most classes don’t have the same impact. In fact, they usually do the opposite. I believe the art room provides a space for students to escape the craziness of traditional school and life. Personally, that’s one of my favorite things about it. Being able to sit in a peaceful environment, doing something unlike that of other classes, can be a refreshing way to continue building critical skills that often get overlooked in school.
Many art skills I’ve learned I use in my other classes and in everyday life. When making art, you’re problem-solving. When starting a new piece, you decide what you need to do and how to do it. Most of the time, you may mess up, but you have to adjust and keep going. I’ve learned to experiment with new things, to be okay when something doesn’t turn out right the first time, and to find different ways to make something since there isn’t a “right” way. I’ve used those skills in math when solving a problem using alternative approaches, in science when an experiment doesn’t go as planned, or in journalism when revising my writing.
Art has also taught me the importance of attention to detail. You have to be very precise and observant. When I’m working on my art pieces, I notice the small details like the mistakes, proportions, or shading, and then I recognize they need fixing to improve the piece. Although they may seem small, they actually make a big difference in the piece overall. Being attentive to detail takes a lot of patience and thoroughness. Patience and focus come in handy in most scenarios, taking your time and catching small errors to produce the best work possible.
In addition, art helped teach me to express myself and build confidence. I’m not always someone who expresses my feelings or thoughts out loud, but through art, I can communicate them differently. Finishing a piece always boosts my confidence, and creating something with meaning lets me share a part of myself without having to explain it in words. Self-expression is important since it improves personal growth and well-being. Experimenting with self-expression can help students when it’s time to explain science or math concepts to peers or write a personal story in English.
Lastly, art has significantly helped prepare me for my future with college and career readiness. Creativity, problem-solving, patience, and confidence are all skills you can benefit from, no matter what career you go into. No matter what students plan to pursue, creativity can help them stand out. Creativity is a hard skill to develop, too, which is why it’s one of the most valuable skills today. Art classes developed these skills and helped me explore my interests and talents, eventually leading me to the conclusion that I want to continue pursuing art by majoring in visual arts. Whether art becomes a hobby or something that influences your future, the impact art can have on your life might be bigger than you expect.