I have always loved music. Whether it be just listening or singing, music has always been an important part of my life. That's why I'm shocked that some schools value sports more than the arts. Now I have nothing against sports, I think they are great! However, there is no reason that a school district should show blatant favoritism to one or the other.

If you have never been involved in the arts, you might wonder how schools are showing favoritism to sports. Let me share a few examples. A few years ago, my high school was blessed with a new building that would also double as a tornado shelter for the community.

When plans were first announced for the building we discovered we would finally be getting the auditorium we had dreamed of. An actual stage to perform on instead of risers in the gym, real acoustics that was much better than the gym. Imagine our dismay when it was unveiled, and the new building was actually just a gym.

There was a pullout stage that took days to put up, and on the floor were basketball markings.

This is not the only example either. A few months ago, my former school district announced the plans for four new scoreboards that would cost around 170,000 dollars.

All the while, the choir is still trying to figure out a way to get people to pay for their costumes because the school will not. You might think these are isolated incidents, but when I reached college I heard several stories exactly like mine.

So to the school that values sports more than the arts, listen closely. The arts are important to not just me, but to people in your community as well. I understand you might love sports, but show the arts some love sometimes. You might learn something new about yourself.