Creativity is an art form. It has no limits, as it can exist in every aspect of existence. Music: the art form that captures the audience in every lyric, saving a person from taking their own life as a result of finding their voice in the melody of a single song. Paintings, sketches, design: every line, brush stroke, or plane contains a world of ideologies, altering a human being’s perception. Literature, poetry: the raw exposure of an author’s heart and soul in order to create an alternate universe to submerge into, as though a submarine is colliding with the words and, as you sink further and further, you become one with the pattern of pages.

Stagnation is the enemy of creativity. In the moments of silence, and when innovation is squelched, is when society declines. I live in a world full of opportunity for creativity. Science, engineering, and mathematics are becoming increasingly popular, as talents in both the music industry and the art world are making a name for themselves. At the same time, people with the talent for writing are documenting these people’s journeys. Social media is an outlet in which each individual can portray themselves in a uniquely stunning way. Yet the education system in the United States of America is not aiding the fundamentals for ingenuity.

The SAT. The ACT. Standardized tests--the torture of the teen. These tests, made to uncover the “true intelligence” of adolescents, have caused students, including myself, severe anxiety and anger. These test are not the measure of a person’s self worth, yet from the beginning of high school, students are taught that good SAT or ACT scores are necessary in order to become a successful college student. These tests are not representative of every teenager. Not all students excel in math, or reading, or writing. That does not demean their intelligence, yet the score they receive often causes distress about their worth. It seems unfair that a test, that every individual has to take, is not catered to the uniqueness of humanity. The human brain is like a complex map, and for every person it leads to different roads and lifestyles.

The English curriculum in high schools across America has become so bland that even teachers complain about their lack of control over what they teach in their classroom. Literature and writing have been, throughout time, a place to express opinions and differing philosophies. However, in 2017, students are all expected to read the same book, memorize specific lines and characters from the text, take a test, and then execute a task provided by the school board. I remember my freshman year, when my English teacher engaged her class by incorporating her own personal twist into every novel we read. For example, during her rendition of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, she had her own set of chains to represent the ghost of Bob Marley, taking on a different personality for every character she portrayed. I no longer see teachers like her with the ability to express the passion that they so diligently fought for when they became an English teaching major.

Music and art classes have become electives in many highs schools, deeming them unnecessary, and not as influential in the stimulation of the mind. However, if this is true, then how come some of the most successful people in the world are musicians and artists?

Many aspects of human existence are fleeting. In 100 years, apps like Instagram and Twitter will fade into oblivion, and the lives that we live now will no longer be the norm. Yet creativity will stand, as it has for all of time. Take Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. I have never been a religious person, and yet I am aware of the impacts of the depictions of Catholicism that this masterpiece has had on the world, and will continue to have.

Do not let your creativity be drained. It is important, and is as sacred as life itself.