Music & Art by Kaelan

Music & Art by Kaelan - April 2023 Scholarship Essay

If you had unlimited time and money, how would you use what you’ve learned in school to create a positive impact on the world?

Music and Art

I have learned in school that all schools are not the same. I began my schooling in California, later moving to rural Southwest Louisiana. This is where I became aware from a very young age that all schools are not the same. Therefore, if I had unlimited time and money I would create a positive impact on the world by supporting a specific education initiative.
Education is the foundation of social change. Social change has the momentum to positively impact the world. Access to unlimited time and money would provide the resources needed to support educational initiatives that provide students with the tools they need to make positive improvements in their lives. Specifically, the k-12 art and music initiative. Being an artistic and musically inclined human being who finds tremendous joy in artistic expression, I would supply the time and resources needed to make sure that ALL schools have a k-12 art and music education department. I have been to schools in my community that do not have any artistic outlets for students. These schools do not have the funding to hire art or music teachers. Nor do they have the funding to provide students with the necessary art supplies or instruments needed for students to actively participate in the joy that artistic expression creates. The same tremendous joy that positively impacts the world because- Art is universal.
California passed Propostion 28 which is a vehicle that will put the state and its students in the lead of becoming a national leader in arts and education. According to EdSource, “Prop. 28 will provide about $1 billion each year in funding to California public schools, so all 6 million students in pre-K through 12th grade can participate in arts and music at school.” Initiatives as such should not only exist in states like California. This initiative should exist in ALL states, ALL communities, for ALL students, in ALL schools. All schools should provide the same art and music fundemental educational opportunities for all students, which include music, theatre, dance, and visual arts. Students in rural communities, like the community that I have attended school in, must provide outlets for the artistically inclined student body. Every child in every classroom must have the opportunity to participate in arts and music despite state lines, or geography. The arts are universal.
Artistic expression creates a frequency that enhances the world positively. “Art is a catalyst for positive transformation in all areas of human development and personal growth. Art has the potential to raise awareness about our individuality and humanity, our relationship to others and our bond with our environment.” This shows how humanity can be used artistically to raise awareness as a tool to positively impact the world. Research shows that students who participate in the arts helps with their sense of academic achievement and social/emotional well being. This is the universal positive impact that the world desperately needs.
Although ALL schools are not the same, and all schools do not have a funded fundamental art and music department/program; if I had unlimited time and money I would create a positive impact on the world by supporting the art and music education initiative.