How do I create?

When watching the Ken Robinson TED talk in school, I thought the quote he said, "We don't grow into creativity, we get educated out of it" made a lot of sense to me and I could really relate to it. Throughout all of high school my favorite classes were Visual Arts and Computer Media studies. My parents, classmates and even teachers told me all the time to focus more on other subjects because those classes that I enjoyed most were not as important. Classes such as math, science and english are weighed more than Visual Arts and Computer Media studies because not only are they mandatory but are also referred to as the "smarter classes". In grade 12 I decided to listen to my gut and go with what makes me happy. Why have a career in something you do not enjoy just because it makes more money? I rather have a career doing something I love to do even if it means making less money.

When discussing the Robinson talk, I noticed that we are all taught at such a young age to not make mistakes. How does this way of learning help us? It doesn't! The only way you will learn in anything you do is by making mistakes, mistakes should be embraced. In school we are taught that mistakes should not be made yet no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, its a part of life, growing and learning. Our class then discussed on the different ways that we learn. I learn by making mistakes, experience, by doing, seeing and moving. I cannot sit and read a textbook when I study, Its just not me. I learn so much better by actually doing it. 

When listening to the excerpted 100 Habits list, I noticed that learning plays a big part in creativity. Of the suggestions discussed from the 100 Habits list I related most to: travel as much as possible, keep creativity alive by any means and you are what you eat. Traveling is number 1 for me because I would love to see different parts of the world. I have always been fascinated by culture and architecture, I think it would benefit me a lot in my creativity to see how others have created around the world. Keeping creativity is important because you should practice it when ever you can. To keep your mind active and in that creative stage. It should become a part of your daily routine, even something simple such as sketching will help a lot. You are what you eat is also helpful because making food out of ingredients allows you to be creative. Adding ingredients you might not know that will make your meal taste good would be like an experiment each time you cook.

The 3 habits that I choose have a lot to say about my creative process. It goes back to prove that I learn by making mistakes, experiences, by doing, seeing and moving. In the context of creativity and design I am most of all a visual person. Which is why I am glad I went with my gut in gr 12 and choose the career path that I did. Classes such as Visual Arts and Computer Media studies should not be viewed as worthless because they get you to think and use your mind like math and science cannot. In Visual Arts and Computer Media studies there is no right and wrong because you are using your imagination. In Math and Science you are either right or wrong, how can you expect to learn and grow when you cannot embrace your mistakes?