We live in a society where the art are undervalued and unappreciated. Music, art, and theater are all swept under the rug. They aren't considered 'real' careers, and they're the first classes to be cut in schools lacking money.
Please. Don't brush off the arts.
I could sit here and rattle off facts and quotes that would go in one of your ears, and out the other. But allow me to tell you what the arts have done for me.
Music taught me self expression. Notes on a page transformed in front of me to live and beautiful sound, and it was in these notes that I could channel emotion. Ink on paper turned into moving and powerful feeling that I had the power to control. Music also taught me how to listen. I am able to pick up certain sounds that I couldn't before, or discover a hidden rhythm on a city street. I can hear subtle changes in other's voices, recognizing an acute change in pitch or speed with ease.
Art taught me versatility. There have been times when I've had an idea for a sketch, but when I sat down to bring it to life, I couldn't. Riddled with errors, I learned to take those mistakes, and transform it into something completely new, but equally as good. Art also taught me dedication. A painting, sculpture, drawing, or animation doesn't come in one sitting. It isn't completed in an hour. It's a drawn-out process that requires countless hours of focus and unwavering dedication. There are times when an artist wants to give up. That determination keeps them going.
Theater taught me confidence. Not only did it bring confidence around other people, as one would expect, but it also brought me confidence when I was alone, and doubting myself. I knew I had a strength within me that I could draw upon, a strength that others did not have. That brought me self confidence. Theater also taught me work ethic. In a company, you have to work your way up to a lead role. You do so through dedication to the performances, hours of practice, and a passion for what you do. You don't just walk into a production and get the lead role. You earn it.
I thank the arts for who I am today. Without a doubt, I know that I wouldn't be the same person without the influence of art, music, and theater. These are skills that I can apply in the real world, ones that extend beyond creativity.
So the next time you think the arts are overrated or unimportant, remember that you get much, much more from the arts than you give.
