Use Your Creativity to Succeed in School

Creativity takes on many forms, and everyone is creative in his or her own way. Some people, though, function comfortably out of their creativity in their everyday lives and see it as one of their greatest assets. Musicians, actors, photographers, painters, writers, and other creatives are talented in ways that help them make things they care about and express themselves naturally.

Unfortunately, creative talent can sometimes go unnoticed or even seem useless in a school setting. The pressures of acing exams, passing state tests and improving SAT scores can squander any amount of creative spirit. Because of this, it’s easy for students who are passionate about their creative hobbies to feel discouraged in school.

The good news is that there are ways to use your creativity in your school career, not just to make learning a bit more fun, but also to help you achieve your academic goals.

Use Your Creativity to Your Advantage on Essays, Projects and College Applications

One of the most important things to remember as you’re working in your classes is that your creative mind is not a hindrance, it’s an opportunity. On school projects, presentations or papers, thinking outside of the box (while still following guidelines) can give you an advantage and help you stand out among other students.

With college applications, creativity is also an enormous asset. If you have creative hobbies, this will show colleges and universities that you have the ability to work hard towards things you are passionate about. For college admission essays, it is crucial that you stand out above the crowd, especially when applying to large universities. Because of your innovative mind, you’ll be able to go above and beyond in your essays. Talk to a free UPchieve college counselor to see how you can bring your art to the foreground.

For more detailed help on application essays, check out our blog on writing a Common App personal statement essay.

Use Creativity to Help You Learn

When you’re creative and actively using imagination and music/art awareness, you’re working the right side of your brain. When you’re focusing on reading, mathematics and logical equations, you’re exercising the left side.

It is important to exercise both sides of your brain, and when you are actively using one side, it greatly increases your ability to use the other because of the brain “muscles” you’re working out.

In other words, if you’re someone who often plays an instrument, creates movies or paints pictures, you’re directly working the right side of your brain and in turn helping the left side as well! This means that these creative projects you spend time on are actually helping your brain prepare for using the left side more, which includes school subjects like math and science.

Use Your Creativity to Balance School and Hobbies

The pressures of school can be terrifying and exhausting. You work hard to study for the most important exams, you try to pass your toughest classes and you constantly try to form the best college applications to set yourself apart from the rest.

These stresses are important to push through, but they can start to weigh you down and have a negative impact if you’re not careful. You don’t want to burn out before it’s time to graduate!

Staying focused on your creative passions can greatly help you stay focused during these tough times at school. Instead of telling yourself that you don’t have time for your hobbies because of all the things you need to do in school, try finding balance between both. For example, when you finish a homework assignment, reward yourself with time to work on things you enjoy.

Exercising your creative passions while working hard in school can help you lower your stress as well as help you maintain academic success.

Final Thoughts on Using Your Creativity at School

Remember, it is important to feel confident and work hard at the things you are passionate about as a student. If you are a creative person with creative goals, don’t let the stresses of the classroom put out the fire you feel. Focusing on some of these points to incorporate creativity in your academic career will help you succeed in ways you may not have thought possible before.

Need help with a class, or applying to college? Sign up to work with a free academic coach through UPchieve.