School is so much more than scoring high on tests, taking advanced classes, and getting the highest GPA possible. Kids themselves are so much more than how they perform on tests and who’s at the top of the class. Music and the arts in school are one of the best outlets for students who otherwise wouldn’t have one. It’s such a great way to de-stress after a long day of state mandated tests.

Whether it’s band, chorus, dance, acting, sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, design, sketching, or any of the countless other art forms, it is essential that we keep them in schools and accessible to those who need it. Not everyone shines when it comes to biology or chemistry, but can truly show their character through art.

When someone is bad at math or science, they’re labeled as dumb or stupid, because the education system tells us that’s something everyone should be good at -- no matter how your brain is wired. However, when someone is bad at any of the arts, it’s somehow OK because they aren’t meant for everyone and not everyone has the “natural” talent for art.

Yes, there is some sort of nature to it all, but the best of the best aren’t there because it “came naturally.” People in the arts work extremely hard day and night for years to become better, and they never stop working themselves to become better than they were a year ago. The amount of effort and dedication that is put in to making art would astound you.

Yet the arts are never taken seriously because it could never be as hard as calculus or biochemistry! It’s not real work, it’s just art after all!

How does this make any sense? Everyone is different and is able to do different things. Some people are good at math, some science, some writing, and some kids are really fantastic when it comes to creating art.

But that isn’t important, the only “real” jobs are in math and science and if you don’t settle for a “real” job, you’re never going to get anything out of life.

Kids growing up need to know that it’s OK if they aren’t the best at the sciences or math. Everybody has something unique to offer, but when so much attention and effort is focused on test scores and being the “smartest,” those who don’t shine in these socially accepted areas fall behind.

These kids could be the next big name in Hollywood, be featured in the MoMA, or have a number one hit on the charts, but unless they’re told it’s OK to do that, they never will. Unless we stop testing kids on their ability to memorize useless facts to regurgitate on a test and then forget, and start nurturing them and allowing them to actually grow as people and find what they’re good at, those kids will always think of themselves as less than the kids who are “smart.”

There are so many ways you can succeed in life and not all of them revolve around being good at math and science.

So this goes out to the kids who were never good in biology but have worked their asses off to play Tchaikovsky perfectly or the ones who failed algebra but can paint the most beautiful mural you’ve ever seen. What you do is completely valid and simply amazing, please, please, please continue with what you’re good at and don’t let anyone stop you on the way to the top. It’s worth it, and so are you.