In a world where art is dying and expression is rare, the students of today are why they can look forward to tomorrow. Traci Long, an art teacher, and Saúl Muñoz Macias, an AP scholar, share what the relation of art and expression is and why it’s important to share which amongst students and making sure they are safe meanwhile.

“Art is any form of expression,” Muñoz said. “The outlet of being oneself verbally, musically, or even on a canvas.”

The arts are lost to some students, and it’s felt necessary by some staff that students are reminded of where being their true and authentic selves can get them.

“Art is any sort of creation that evokes an emotion from its audience,” Long said. “It tells us what you see when you look inside yourself and ask what message are you trying to get across.”

Art can be difficult to tap into or understand, even on paper. There are, however, many ways to bring that out of students. That’s where the freedom of expression and its importance rolls in.

“How you do that is completely up to you,” Long said. “You want to express your message, but you also want to represent yourself, too. Each artist has their own way of expressing said message.”

It may feel as if school is training children to work an office job. While fun may not be prioritized over the merit in working hard and achieving, the arts prove to be great recreational time for students.

“Sitting in a desk all day in traditional classes doing nothing but work, and work and work can be draining,” Long said. “Coming into art, even if it’s not something you’re super passionate about, can be relaxing. You can paint, you can color and it just feels like a reprieve to your normal school day.”

Before the resetting of the daylight cycle comes it’s noted that like all things in life, art requires perseverance. Being guided to success can only take someone half the way. They must rise to the occasion and to each stone, first and last.

“Don’t stop striving because you can’t get it right, because you will get it right,” Long said. “I’ve been drawing for 20 years and still struggle to draw hands and a horse’s head, but I don’t allow it to stifle my creativity. Neither should you.”