As college students, it sometimes seems like our workload never ends. With midterms to study for, papers to turn in, and finals just around the corner, it’s hard to find time for personal moments of introspection. But the creative growth we so often sacrifice for tests and textbooks is just as important as the intellectual growth we get from lectures and labs. So how can we, as hardworking students, strike a balance between our academic pursuits and our creative passions?
There’s no denying that between school, friends, and extracurriculars, there’s little time or energy left for jamming in a garage band, creating the next great Mona Lisa, or penning an autobiographical memoir. But this doesn’t mean we have to completely sacrifice all of our creative impulses in the name of more studious endeavors. At the end of the day, what’s important isn’t the time we put into our passions, but the heart. By indulging in little moments of exploration throughout our day-to-day routine, we are not only satisfying our creative and artistic impulses, but stimulating and reinforcing them as well. The next time the need for a study break strikes, instead of wasting your moments away updating your Facebook status, channel your energy into a more creative outlet, be it belting out your favorite new Katy Perry song or putting the finishing touches on a life-size sculpture of your school mascot. Hit up an interesting art gallery or a local music venue next weekend instead of your usual Friday night haunt. Creativity feeds creativity, even in the most fleeting of moments. Take the time to spark your imagination, and your imagination in turn will spark all your intellectual pursuits.
Another great way to pursue the arts as a student is to get involved on campus. Like to write? Start a column in your school’s newspaper! Got an American Idol worthy voice? Audition for an acappella group! Student-run groups allow you to creatively collaborate with friends, inspire and be inspired by like-minded peers, and consistently pursue your passion. Beginning-level art classes also offer even the most inexperienced students a chance to get their creative juices flowing (and can be taken for credit!). If you’re interested in finding new hobbies and learning new art forms, check out the unique offerings at the Experimental College or grab a friend and try your hand at something new and different together. Explore, play, digress, experiment, we are all artists!