I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard college will be the best four years of my life. Yes, it certainly does seem that way — if you only look at the picturesque Instagram posts and the lively backwards-walking campus tours.
Stress levels among students are at an all-time high. With endless assignments, working part-time, and internships, time for creativity is so often the first thing on the chopping block. Studies show that creative outlets are essential for mental health and academic success alike.
A 2022 American College Health Association survey showed that nearly three out of four college students experience moderate to serious psychological distress. This is absolutely alarming and tells me that our system is broken.
Universities emphasize productivity, but rarely open up spaces for students to just be creative. Sure, we have access to the Mental Health and Wellness Center, but that’s really just a rescue effort, right? Creating is one of the best ways to maintain mental health, whereas therapy is better for specific stressors and traumas.
The Journal of Positive Psychology found that engaging in small creative activities like doodling or journaling can significantly boost mood in a given moment. The authors called these “micro-moments of creativity.” They act as simple psychological resets for students who can’t seem to get off the academic hamster wheel.
Extending beyond just stress relief, creativity is also helpful for cognitive function. A study from Stanford showed that students who take breaks for activities like drawing or playing music have higher retention when recalling what they learned.
Despite these studied benefits, creativity remains undervalued in postsecondary education. Art and music programs often experience budget cuts first, and extracurricular creative spaces are optional. Students internalize this and prioritize homework and grades over an optional activity, no matter how beneficial, which leads to burnout and struggling mental health.
The solution is simple: colleges need to integrate more accessible creativity into student life. This could include more opportunities akin to Student Life’s “Pinterest Night,” where students are provided art supplies and snacks, or expanded funding or student publications like Cardinal Sins.
I could also see a benefit from adding a makerspace where students could pick up free art supplies or work on projects in one designated room. Similar to how the Lot[us] room is for students to have a quiet space with low lighting, something could be added for students to be creative.
In fact, Project Lot[us] was founded by two nursing students who saw a need for a peaceful space and community after the tragic Oxford High School shooting in 2021. The project was funded by the SVSU Foundation Resource Grant, which As much as the comforting space of the Lot[us] room and club can be therapeutic, a space for creativity could have similar effects.
Students could go as far as to apply for the Foundation Resource Grant to create a space for creativity, or even just start by picking up a $5 coloring book and some Crayolas.
In a world where stress and burnout are treated as necessary for success, we should reclaim creativity. Students don’t just need to engage with the arts to enrich their free time — they need it to thrive. If universities want to prepare us for life in the workforce, they need to prioritize creativity.
