This month, we share and uplift a handful of student voices. These future visionaries and creators speak to how and why the arts matter to their lives, to this community and to our world.

The arts matter to me. Through the arts, no matter what form they may take, I’ve been able to connect with others. By being on my own and painting a picture or writing a poem, I can reflect on what it is I have to offer the world. I can connect with others by reflecting on the same aspects we see in the world — the same things that we love and the same things that we hate. The arts have opened me to new perspectives while sharpening my own. 

The arts are so important to our society because they provide something universal for all to see or hear. The arts awaken us to the realities of the world we live in, while also providing an escape — like a favorite song or movie we watch that makes us cry tears of joy even when our lives are falling apart. The arts provide us with necessary comfort and discomfort. They bring balance to the world and they are vital. 

ATZIRI MARQUEZ
11th Grade Inner-City Arts Student  |  Creative Writing
 

The arts matter to Atziri, to her peers and to the future of this city.