How do we determine the value of something? Does worth come from a hefty price tag, a brand name or a huge department store? That criteria might work for material items, but what about things that aren't physically here? Think about the time you spend with your family, the funniest moment you've ever had, your greatest passions. We are much more reluctant to put a value on those things, but why? Is it because they don't matter enough, or because they matter oh-so much?
My entire life, I have seen this huge glorification of athletes, at any level. I noticed that sports players always seemed highly respected and looked up to by people of all ages. I was never much of a sports gal, so I always asked myself, "What makes these people so special?" I'm certainly not hating on athletes out there -- y'all work tirelessly to achieve your goals, and it's a wonderful thing. Nonetheless, I realized my reason for questioning their importance, because I could never relate to them. I wasn't athletic; I didn't find my high in sprinting on a track or shooting a ball into a net. At that time, I had found a passion in something else: music.
I looked up to the biggest singers in the music industry, not a professional athlete. I bonded with music teachers, not sports coaches. Regardless, I knew that whether someone wanted to be an NFL player or a singer, they would work incredibly hard to reach their destination...and I still admire that to this day. What gets me, though, is the difference I see in how others perceive these people.
I'll give school as an example: imagine a school with both a football team and a competitive choir. Let's say that the football team isn't having the best season in their history- not terrible, per se, but not their best. They've won some, and they've lost some. Now, let's say that at the same time, the school's choir competes and wins all of their competitions, bringing more accolades and recognition to the school.
Now, here's the question: which will receive a higher amount of funding...the football team, or the choir department?
In reality, 9 times out of 10, the athletics department will emerge victorious. But go back to the first paragraph of this article and think about it: how do you put a value on a passion? Who decided that one is better than the other? This is an actual problem in so many schools today.
Now let me ask you another question: If there were budget cuts, which program would be the first to go?
The sad truth is that the arts are typically cut first. Do you see what I mean? It's crazy that one party's goals and dreams can be so well supplemented while simultaneously, another party's dreams are erased. This happens all too often, nationwide. It certainly is not fair, but not enough is being done.
I'm not here to begin an argument, but simply to provoke thought. Students everywhere should receive an equal opportunity to pursue their passion and further their love for whatever it is they do...and before you write off another person's dream, think about your own.
