Follow The Creative Compulsion

By Staff Writer Navya Chitlur

Throughout my life, I have a constant pressure to stifle my love for the arts, whether it was because of the STEM-based environment at MSJ or due to the Asian traditional values many families, including mine, uphold. However, despite not being directly involved in the arts, even STEM-based fields rely heavily on fostering creative excellence—it is the divergent mindset that nurtures innovation.

In a famous 1994 NASA study, 98% of 1,600 randomly selected students from ages three to five were labeled geniuses, though when re-evaluated as adults, the number was reduced to 2%. NASA attributed this decline to the lack of creative intelligence or divergent thinking—thinking which involves new ideas—and the prioritization of convergence in environments such as schools.

Creativity is not only beneficial to thought processes and intelligence factors, but also to emotional well-being. As I grew older, I faced countless stress factors and hurdles, and through it all, I found a coping mechanism in creative outlets. Following my passion for creative writing, I began to engage deeper into the field, particularly through poetry. I realized that making art was a cathartic release from stress, as well as a way to escape from emotional turmoils. I began to write to understand myself and track my growth throughout the years, whether it was through journaling or poetry. By engaging in creative outlets, no matter the form, people can turn their negativity and stress into a beautiful expression of raw honesty and emotion, without which the world would be without color.

Creativity is not only a way to process emotions, but also a way to spark innovation and advancement—it pushes people to think of novel ideas and invent, driving the advancement of society. For example, chemists explore and experiment with various ingredients to creatively generate new scientific discoveries. I have watched my friends and family piece together their own robotic innovations using code or other programs, creating unique and diverse designs.

Through every stage of life, people use their creative thinking. It’s a trait we should foster and grow rather than dismiss as less important. Art allows us to express ourselves and portray our humanity, as well as grow and advance as a society. Progressing this way of thinking, whether through personal expression and reflection through art, or engaging in projects and puzzles or other innovative thinking processes, allows us to process the world in unique and artistic ways.