Whenever people tell me about their high school experience, their stories leave me stunned. In particular, bullying comes to mind. I hear stories every day of kids who are bullied in school - of fights breaking out on a daily basis. These stories make me feel privileged to have attended the school I did.
I attended an art school in Wilmington, Delaware, which on first glance does not appear any different from any other high school. It's a standard three-story building, catering to grades 6-12. However, upon entering, you see the camaraderie between students. You hear kids playing the piano in the lobby. You notice the visual art majors illustrating intricate pictures in their sketchbooks. Communication art majors walk the halls with cameras, taking shots of everything in sight.
In the modern day educational landscape, these are the kids who are in the minority. Cities all over the country are cutting funding to arts programs, and the way I see it, that is a devastating loss. If anything, my immersive arts education prepared me for college much better than physics or geometry.
At an art school, art is not just the classes. Art is the community. My school drove the importance of equality and diversity into the ground. Stickers indicating a safe space for LGBT students were posted on every door, and teachers are always there to help a student when he or she may need it. Art is how we expressed ourselves, whether you were a singer or a writer. Talent came in many different forms, whether in the arts or in academics. In both fields, talent was cultivated and nurtured. We were pushed to pursue our goals, regardless of criticism or doubt.
Diversity especially is something I saw when I came to college. From a high school of 400 to a college of 2000, I was intimidated by the staggering amount of people. The good part was that I was prepared. During high school, I discovered I had friends from all walks of life, revealed to me through their particular arts. In college, I was prepared to meet more people from different walks of life and listen to their stories because that is what I learned to do in high school. I learned that every person has a unique story and unique qualities that make them the person they are, and they deserve to have their voices heard.
I did not just learn about the arts. I allowed the arts to mold me into a better listener, a better artist, and a better person. Yes, I can tell you the Pythagorean theorem, but I can also tell you how to observe people and how to find out what qualities and faults make us human (yes, writing a novel for your creative writing class will teach you these things).
Art school helped prepare me for college in this way. I am better able to communicate with my peers and have the opportunity to pursue the career I want because I was allowed to flourish as an artist instead of just as a student.
