has changed how they approach their work and relationships with others.
The students were given the forum and the tools to create and the process helped them connect, collaborate, support and heal each other. Therapists use the same creative process to help individuals
suffering from traumatic experiences. American psychiatrist and author, Dr. Sandra Bloom, has stated that, “the kinds of mental activities that are associated with creativity are essential for creative problem solving, for negotiating complex social situations, and for understanding and fully appreciating relationships.” During an interview for my film Truth About Nothing, I learned Dr. Bloom uses the creative process to help give her patients clarity to their challenges and the power to break unhealthy behavior. Over the past several years working with youth, I too, inadvertently observed how our film students grew from the power of creative process.
Too often we think that creativity is only related to the arts. Instead, creativity should be in every part of the learning process. When we choose not to value creativity, we prevent the youth from experiencing the benefits of the method, from both a neurological and personal perspective. It is imperative that we promote the creative process so our
youth can use all parts of their mind and experience all possibilities, connections, and positive outcomes. We need creative ideas to reduce the bullying problems on campus. We need to find creative ways to empower youth to work together and to express what they’ve learned in creative ways, whether it be a way to devise a new formula in physics or a coping mechanism with the loss of a loved one. When we’re allowed to be creative, we open up the possibilities to connect, to support, to understand, to heal and to create another beautiful thing in this world. We need to give children the opportunity to be creative everyday, even if it’s just to see what is possible.
Too often we think that creativity is only related to the arts. Instead, creativity should be in every part of the learning process.
It is imperative that we promote the creative process so our youth can use all parts of their mind and experience all possibilities, connections, and positive outcomes.
10