There’s always been a massive debate over the significance of the arts and arts education; recently, though, it’s been even more prominent. What with the Wells Fargo ad of last week—“a ballerina yesterday, an engineer today; An actor yesterday, a botanist today”—and the AT&T ad of earlier this year—“Catch a Winning Play at the Theater,” featuring a man watching football on his phone in the middle of a performance—the arts have been getting slammed from all sides. Funding has repeatedly been cut, debates have erupted surrounding arts versus athletics or arts versus sciences, and society regularly questions the reality of having a career in the arts. It seems like the stereotype of petty, shallow, unintelligent artists (the “band geeks,” the “drama nerds”…you know them) has been increased lately.

I’m here to tell you that that’s ridiculous.

Actor, singer, or dancer: true artists aren’t the superficial, ignorant people that they’re made out to be. In fact, art isn’t the job of that lazy millennial hipster that so many people think it’s hilarious to mock; it’s not something you major in when you’ve given up, or only want to be famous, or want attention. Arts education shouldn’t be something that’s meant only for the geeks, the nerds, the freaks, or whatever your area dubbed them. And artists’ work should be taken seriously.

Here’s the thing that I don’t think many people realize: an incredible amount of hard work goes into being a performer. Literal blood, sweat, and tears are shed inside that dance studio, that recording room. Heart and aching soles are left on that stage. We push ourselves to our very limit and beyond. Hours are spent perfecting an arm extension, a facial expression, or a vocal lift, all to communicate the human condition (the beautiful stories of film, television, theatre, and music) to all of you. Portraying a different human believably is not easy. Attaining grande jetés that fly six feet off the floor isn’t easy, and creating a healthy belt isn’t easy. These take years of hard work, schooling, and personal discovery. Whilst an engineering student is researching obscure mathematical subjects, we write papers on the methods of Stanislavski, Hagan, and Chekhov; while a doctor is looking over anatomical charts, we’re studying pedagogy and the biology of the vocal folds in connection to our body. Both take hard work, and neither is lesser than the other. Not everyone can handle being a performer. It takes time, resilience, and the willingness to constantly learn and understand the human condition. It’s an impassioned and difficult (yet so rewarding) thing.

Many people also seem to miss the simple fact that being a performer takes a massive amount of intelligence and awareness of the world. Theatre, especially, is such a unifying thing. When portraying a character, the actor has to be aware of and thoroughly research every aspect of that person, that place. This includes history, psychology, philosophy, theology, science, art…you name it, we have to know about it. Performers are some of the most well-rounded, open-minded, intelligent people you can ever meet, and so many can forget that. We are interested in learning about everything and everyone; not only is it crucial for our jobs and our livelihoods, but it’s inherent in us. Because of that, performers have beautiful minds. They’re not superficial or stupid. It’s quite the opposite.

Art, too, in and of itself, shouldn’t be misjudged or thought to be unnecessary. Art has been the most powerful and most healing thing throughout all of history. Think of every book, every film, every play or musical, every CD, that has opened up your mind, made you see the world differently; now picture the ones that make you feel sane when you’re overwhelmed with life. Art is a binding force, one that can transcend generations, races, religions, identities, and points of view. It affects each one of us on a daily basis, changing the world one small thought or action at a time. The people who provide that, whatever it may be (inspiration, relief, joy), are the artists behind it. The designers, the songwriters, the authors, the composers, the performers, the musicians…each one of them is what affects you. Each one of them is providing a powerful, undying influence on the world in their own small way. What’s so worthless or unwanted about that?

I’m not trying to bash anything science or math related. I’m certainly not a mathematically-minded person, but I so admire those who are. Some of my best friends are currently at engineering or tech school, in fact. I love and respect each and every one of them, and those like them. Math and science have a wonderful, analytical place in our world. In return, I ask that they respect our profession, the artists. We are so needed, especially in a world as chaotic and ever-changing as ours. We can help. So, please, stop belittling the arts and arts education. We’re here, we’re important, and that’s not ever going away. We love every human. I’m sure you could at least give us respect in return.

Thank you.