Self-expression is an important aspect of anybody’s life. It allows a person to express and communicate what is significant to them. Self-expression is your sense of individuality and what makes a person different from the rest. It allows individuals to assert their unique identity and establish a sense of autonomy. It allows them to communicate through their feelings, experiences, and thoughts; shaping their mindset and contributing to their personal growth. Without self-expression, what differentiates us from each other?
Modern Society
In modern society, we are slowly fitting into molds; whether in school, work, or social spaces. Too many people hide their expression to fit into a box made by society. People can dictate who you are, how you are expected to act; and who you are to become.
We are all shaped by complex mindsets and ideologies based on our own prior experiences. No one is simple or dull enough to be described by one term. In school, many students have and are struggling with finding themselves and expressing their own opinions. There’s a major difference in expectation and reality, and because of this people are distorted and are forced to fit in their mold, whether that be by themselves or peers.
Promoting creativity and individuality is more important than ever before; because of new societal advancements and expectations.
Do schools really kill individuality and self-expression?
Our education system is designed around academic ability, which sidelines other forms of intelligence, such as creativity. People are prioritizing academic intelligence and money over individuality and creativity. A supportive source is the Ken Robinson speech, Do schools kill creativity? It involves the same points and gives a vast explanation. Robinson states, “At the top are mathematics and languages, then the humanities, and at the bottom are the arts, everywhere on Earth. And in pretty much every system too, there’s a hierarchy within the arts. Art and music are normally given a higher status in schools than drama and dance. There isn’t an education system on the planet that teaches dance every day to children the way we teach them mathematics.”
Ken Robinson’s words are more important now than ever. For example, art programs. Schools are taking away programs for creativity due to budget constraints and concern that it’s taking away from high-stakes testing (high school diploma, scholarship, SAT, etc). By eliminating programs where we can express ourselves, we lose our individuality. Is money more important than individuality?
A lot of schools are deciding that yes, it is. Schools are telling us that to have money, we need jobs. To make the most money, we need to go to college for years and excel academically. But that doesn’t take into consideration the people who benefit and strive off of creative spaces and excel more when creativity is involved. Not everyone wants to be a doctor or a lawyer, or something that even involves academics. Schools need to also think about those who would rather pursue their passions, like music, art, or trades. Non-academic careers are talked down on and are considered unachievable. The day that this issue is resolved is the day that those who pursue passions as careers can be considered ‘Plan A.’
Alternatives to Traditional Ways
Schools also don’t consider students who achieve the most when they aren’t in school. People excel at different things, and we shouldn’t shame them. It’s important to acknowledge that learning takes place in multiple environments and that it’s not always in the walls of a class. Many students do best in “hands-on” experiences and creative occupations that can’t be measured through academic, traditional ways. We can create a better learning environment when we acknowledge these diverse ways of education.
Students will continue to feel the overwhelming pressure to fit into pre-made molds unless somebody (or something) breaks the tradition and takes creativity and individuality seriously. I implore principals and superintendents to make sure that students have a creative outlet to express themselves. On top of that, trade schools are a great alternative for students who think that this article speaks heavily to them.
