Covid and Creativity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people are spending more time at home than ever before. Some of the students here at Rowland Hall have used the extra time to pursue creative projects, such as baking, photography, gardening, and more. For this article, I interviewed a few students about how they channeled their creativity during the pandemic and researched reasons for you to consider doing something creative too.

For many students, being stuck at home means an opportunity to make art. Allison Mayetani, a freshman at Rowland Hall, said, “Something nice that came out of the pandemic was that I had more time to do art and work with different mediums.'' With the opportunity provided by the pandemic, Allison was able to experiment with her art and create illustrations like the painting below of her dog, Scout. Another student, Erin Stotts, found a similar interest in filmmaking and photography. She explained, “Making films is my creative outlet. It allows me to tell the stories in my head.” These two provide terrific examples of how many use the arts as a way to express themselves and relax.

Others, such as Rowland Hall student Luke Muhlestein, have tried more unconventional activities. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Luke and his family found inventive activities to try, such as cliff jumping at Echo Lake. According to him, “We started finding things to do around June because it was after the full lockdown and we were all ready to get out of the house.” For many, being unable to go out in public spaces like usual can feel frustrating and boring. Luke, like many students, has been able to think creatively and find new, safe, and enjoyable ways to spend his time during the pandemic.

Although nearly everyone has a different idea of what it means to be creative, engaging in a creative activity is an important part of life. According to an article by cornerstone.edu, being creative can improve health, reduce stress, keep you engaged, and help improve problem solving skills. It can also provide a way to spend your time that allows you to express yourself and have fun. Whether it’s writing, cooking, or simply trying something new, I encourage each of you reading this article to make the most of these unusual circumstances and try something creative.