I found this event really and truly inspiring, because I have always loved the arts in all the ways that it can manifest itself. I played musical instruments for most of my childhood, which was not only a therapeutic experience but also a means and cause for some of my best memories. I loved painting, and sculpting with different types of clays. For me, it brings back fond memories of happier times, because somewhere along the way, I veered off the artistic path and onto a more “scholastic” path.

You all know what I’m talking about. Even from early on in middle school, when your parents are trying to motivate you to take your studies seriously, they start making comments about how unlikely you are to make a living off of certain hobbies– amongst those, many of the artistic outlets we made for ourselves up to that point in our lives. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about (because your parents never gave you that spiel), consider yourselves lucky. However, I think it’s safe to say that most of you have. As a testament to this presumption, I would like to point out that most of the people who attended this event seem to be pursing careers in STEM (including myself).

It was a very pleasant experience to be surrounded by so much color and creativity for the duration of this event. I felt inspired to take out my colored pencils again. I felt as though I needed to create something, and that is a feeling I haven’t had for a long time. We’re surrounded by white walls and blackboard most of the time. There’s a limit to how creative you can get with formulas and equations, (and yes, that was a joke). I left that room with a brighter outlook for my day from merely seeing slides of different artworks. I have great admiration for each and every one of the individuals who stood there presenting, and sharing their art with us.

It dawned on me as I left this event that there’s a cultural influence in American that deters young minds from pursuing the arts. Before this event I hadn’t even considered that there exist artistic careers from which you can earn a dependable salary, such as working at a greeting card company. It didn’t occur to me that those jobs do exist, even if supply for that kind of work far exceeds demand. For my entire life, everyone has been influencing me to pursue a career in science and I never stopped to think about the jobs that exist outside of that bubble of reality. Even in elementary schools, funding for the arts is constantly being cut because there is a culture that undermines the importance of the arts and the fulfilling experiences that come with it.