What I Learned by Majoring In Art

So, I was an art major in college.

Actually, I got what was called a "dual Bachelor's," where you did the units for two Bachelor's degrees at once. My other degree was in Communication (which was mostly about film and media). Interestingly, at my school Film Studies is in the Art Department now.

This was the late 1980s. A time when, particularly at the school I attended, if you weren't studying engineering or medicine or computers, people wondered what you thought you were going to do with your degree. There was still a very strong "have the right degree, get job" mentality. Maybe you were a trust fund baby and could dabble in these nice majors because you didn't really need a job. Maybe you just weren't good enough to do those other majors.

There I was. My friends were doing problem sets and calculus, and I was covered in oil paint.

I think about four of us graduated together in Studio Art my year. Maybe five; I'd have to look.

Here's what I learned studying Studio Art:

1. How to show up for class and get assignments done

2. How to relate to the faculty and make sure I was on track to get the right units

3. How to collaborate with other students

4. How to listen and accept feedback

5. How to speak about my ideas

6. How to organize, budget for and take care of my materials

7. How to learn from other people's work

8. How to solve problems when there is no clear answer

9. Oh, and how to stretch canvas, edit film by hand, mix colors, draw nudes, etc. etc.

And, by "learned," I mean to say, I did not know these things beforehand. Anyone who went to school with me will attest that I was not a shining example of professionalism at the time. Like, that #1 "show up for class" one. I didn't start out doing that one very well.

Hm. If you look back over that list, it's got lots of useful things on it! Things that are about thinking, and problem solving, and dealing with people, and dealing with the world. Isn't that interesting? I thought this was just a flaky art degree.

My point? When you go to school, choose your major because it is something that gives you energy and inspiration. Because you will need that energy and inspiration to do the hard work of learning how to think and problem solve and deal with people and departments.

And, even in everyday life, play to your strengths. You will learn a lot about yourself this way (maybe even what you should major in). If you read better standing up, do so. If you do math better by drawing pictures of the problems, have at it. But pay attention to your strengths, those things you do when you aren't doing anything else. In my case, it was drawing. For you it might be dancing, making up number problems, writing stories, shooting baskets.

DON'T play to your strengths purely because you think that shooting baskets leads to a basketball career. Or singing leads to a career at the Met. That's way too linear.

Instead, think of your strengths as your center, and from there you can branch out into just about anything. If you make your brain comfy, it works better. Period.

I've been reading and listening a lot lately to the notion that dividing our education system into discrete subject areas runs counter to the way our mind actually works and grows. See, Ken Robinson. See, Brain Rules. I couldn't agree more.

So take it from a person who went to school on the 'wrong' side of the brain... you can spend your time banging your head (and brain) against the wall trying to be the way the system says you should be, or you can pay attention to what makes you go, and in the process actually do better at everything you put your mind to.