College and Creativity: Finding the Time
"Major in something that will make you money."
"You can follow your dreams later."
"Fashion doesn't pay the bills."
@mallorythetiny 2017
Thrifted Shirt and Cardigan
These are some of the common things that creatives constantly hear on the road to and throughout college. As mentioned in my last post, we are encouraged to be ourselves, but then lectured about how being ourselves won't put food on the table. There are a number of artists and creators who make the decision not to go to college in order to pursue their disciplines full time, but what about creators who do decide to pursue higher education? Who inspires us? Who leads us out of the dark when we begin to get lost in our own feelings of ambivalence. School or art? Passion or practicality?
@mallorythetiny 2017
Some may say that I'm going against the grain by majoring in a subject area that doesn't have any immediate correlation to art or fashion, which may be true. But with this in mind, it's important for me to point out that true artists, and creatives, must be able to find inspiration in anything that they do. My marketing degree will not take away from my desire or drive to be a stylist, model, or anything else that I aspire to be. If anything, it will add to my skill set and give me the ability to market myself and my work.
@mallorythetiny 2017
The conclusion I've come to, is why should we have to make a choice? Why not do what's practical, and what you're passionate about at the same time?
Yes, it's harder, but the truth is that living a life centered around practicality and what's easy will also be hard, and taking the risk of not doing anything that's practical at all will be just as difficult.
For me it's just a matter of deciding how much difficulty I'm willing to put up with to get what I want, and to be honest, I want both. I want practicality, and spontaneity. I want to be able to express myself, but to also be relatable, and most importantly I want my business degree, and to also pursue all of my creative interests.
Making the decision to attend college, doesn't mean you must give up your dreams as an artist. And while some may say that school isn't for everyone, others are pursuing their degrees, and their dreams at the same time, even if they are in two totally different directions. I am one of these people, and I would hope that those who are lacking motivation can read this, and move forward while going for every opportunity that life has to offer them.
