Balanced Workload: Taking fine arts classes relieves stress and provides creative opportunities for students to find community

The bell signals the end of my third-hour AP United States History class. I’m hauling my seemingly 20-pound backpack — stuffed with the dense homework from my six honors classes — up the main staircase to fourth-hour AP Calculus BC.

My brain, already exhausted from learning about the American Revolution and Henry Bacon’s rebellion, is too worn out to grapple with limits and derivatives for the first five minutes, let alone an hour and a half — and it’s not even noon. 

I’m already thinking about the flood of packets and reading assignments from my packed AP and IB course load.

If only I had enrolled an arts class like Introduction to Studio Art to relieve my stress and give me a break from my rigorous academic schedule.

Taking creative classes, such as art, music or theater, gives high school students a break during the school day, a creative outlet and a community.

For many students, taking a fine arts class would support their learning in academic classes as well as mental health. According to the Princeton Review, an education in art helps students reduce stress and anxiety by giving them a place to use creativity.

Relaxing through art classes can be anything from making a clay pot or intricate sculpture to darkroom photography print. This vital self-expression and de-stressing cannot be achieved while memorizing the preterite conjugation of “ser” in Spanish class or filling out a chart for AP European History.

Although a class such as ceramics is challenging and requires hard work, it doesn’t demand hours of studying outside the classroom. Not everyone can be the next Van Gogh, but that doesn’t mean art classes should be discounted. 

There are many art classes at East, including photography, jewelry and woodshop, making it easy for students to find their niche in a certain class. 

Not only do fine arts classes calm academic pressures — they allow students to express themselves artistically.

The music department, including classes such as Marching Band, Symphonic Orchestra and Jazz Band, gifts students with creativity. Learning music reinforces language skills, improves reading ability and builds memory and attention, according to NFHS.org. Instrumental ensemble even allows students to try the music department without previously knowing how to play an instrument.

Learning to play an instrument isn’t a “throw away” skill as constant, precise usage of hands can carry over to drawing in an architecture degree and practicing medicine.

By engaging in a music class, students can carry the musical lessons of teamwork and memorization to their group science projects or French presentations.

A general requirement class, such as history, doesn’t build the same community that an elective, such as theater can. Working together during and after school for plays, musicals and revues, theater students get to know each other in a more personal way than simply sitting next to each other in class. 

Fine arts classes can foster a sense of community through the students who are dedicated to participating in them.

One way to solve this issue is for East to enforce that high school students take a fine arts credit every year instead of simply a single credit requirement. Let’s relieve academic stress and cultivate creativity and community through taking fine arts classes. 

So this January when I fill out my schedule request form I’ll think about how I feel sitting down in my math class, overwhelmed with homework, and make the decision to take fine arts classes.