I've been in many a class that dictates the first day's first half hour or so be dedicated to the seemingly mandatory "Getting to Know You" session. But never before has the session included the question, "Why are you taking this class?" and that really stuck with me. Why am I taking this class? Well I'm taking it because I needed another one since my first summer class got cancelled, I liked the teacher in another class I'd had with her, and I'd heard a lot about it. Now I'm in it to reclaim the soul that a class last semester stole from me. See, I didn't have a lot of "creative classes" last semester and coupled with a course that took up too much of my time, energy, and spirit, I lost track of my muse - or something like that, I guess. I haven't done any art since Winter Break and it's kind of killing me. So that's why I'm here.
But what about the rest of the class?
That's why that question stood out to me. Each of us got to examine something that we should really look at more often. Why take a class? Is it mandatory? Will it help you? Do you just need a blow off class? I can honestly say I've never really thoroughly looked at why I've taken a class. This was the first time anyone had asked me.
Now, how will this examination of "why" help me in my creative endeavors? I think it presents a great mindset. I need to ask myself "why" more often. Why do I want to create this? Why am I stuck on that? Why is Nutella better than Hershey's Hazelnut Spread? Because when one asks oneself "why," he/she looks for a purpose in that something. And everything needs a purpose to exist (even if that purpose is to just exist - like that sticky patch on my carpet from some past leaser's spilled cola). So by asking why we are taking this class, I've slipped into the mindset of asking why about my own creativity and that can help it grow because it now has a purpose. Pretty neat when you sum it all up like that, huh?
