"I'm always thinking about creating. My
future starts when I wake up every morning. Every day I find something
creative to do with my life."
Miles Davis
What is creativity?
Creativity is a quality that you bring to something you do. Creative people
are therefore concerned as much about the process of creation, as they are
about its outcome.
Those who bring creativity to their work exhibit the following qualities:
- a willingness to maintain an open mind
- a commitment to be disciplined
- focus and energy
- an ability to reflect and relax
- a playful attitude
Creative people are "lateral thinkers" and willing to "think
outside the box". They are certainly disciplined and know how to work
hard, but this is in a flexible rather than a rigid way. They are also prepared
to change and adapt if something is not working. Most importantly, creative
people approach what they do with a joyful spirit and as a result creative
work is notable for its ability to resonate with others - in some intangible
way it connects us all.
How can I be a creative student?
You may be saying to yourself, well, that's all very interesting but how does
that relate to my life as a student? But that's exactly the point, creativity
is not something that should be compartmentalized to particular 'parts' of
your life. Rather, it's a certain quality or approach that can apply to all
areas of your life be it cooking, gardening, and yes, studying. You don't have
to a painter of the calibre of Leonard Da Vinci or a musician like Miles Davis
(quoted above) to be creative or a so-called "artist". In fact, if
studying isn't reduced to something that's mechanical and tedious it too can
partake of that elusive quality called "creativity".
Undoubtedly, many students feel they're "constrained" by the demands
and protocols of academia. For example, it's not uncommon to hear students
ask how can they be creative when 99% of the material they use is the work
of someone else. These students may argue that the very demands of referencing
indicate that they're not creating something original that they can call their
own, but simply pulling together the ideas and research of other people.
However, while it's true that you'll need to rely on the work of others during
your studies, it's what you do with that material that's important and it's
here that your creativity can be expressed. If you think about it you're using
the work of other people for a quite specific purpose and if you're approaching
that material critically, through your research and reading, you'll be able
to develop your own opinions. And ultimately you'll be in a position to build
a case with which to defend those opinions. Sure your opinions are influenced
by the work that other people have done before you but it's up to you in the
final analysis to either accept or reject them. You're not some empty vessel
that's simply filled with the knowledge of other people. If you're an active
learner, you'll mould that knowledge for your own ends. This is where your
creativity comes in.
Importantly as well, it's important to recognize that not everything we do
needs to be completely "original", and indeed it's impossible for
it to be so. We're all indebted to the work of other people. I'm sure Leonardo
Da Vinci was aware of the importance of the thousands of artists who painted
before his time as well as those in the community in which he lived. By necessity
some of the work we do will be building on that of others, but that in itself
does not mean that our work can't be creative. Our "originality" will
come through in the particular mark we make on our work.
Another way to look at it is to think of yourself as an apprentice and as
such you're learning the skills of your trade. That "trade" may
be academia or it may be one of the many professions outside the university.
Regardless of what your professional goals are, the work that you undertake
at university will involve expanding your knowledge and skills base. Again,
using the example of Da Vinci, I'm sure he spent many hours and much effort
mastering the skills of painting but I'm sure he also did so with great energy
and passion. That comes through in his art. You too will need to spend time
practicing the skills of your trade. At university this will involve the
skills of research, writing and communicating. It's how you approach practicing
these skills that's important.
However, while energy and discipline are certainly the hallmarks of creative
people, the creative process also requires a certain amount of "inactivity" or
rest. Just think for a moment about when things have just "clicked into
place" for you or when you've had a great thought or found a solution
to a problem. I bet that was at a time when you weren't even actively thinking
about that particular issue or problem. It was more likely to be when you were
doing something completely different and when you were in a completely relaxed
state, perhaps in the bath or while walking in a quiet place. The same applies
to your studies. When you're working on an assignment for example it may be
when you're not consciously thinking about it that you find all the separate "bits" of
your research falling into place. As a student, you therefore need to develop
a healthy balance between being "active" and "passive".
The seedbed for creativity often lies in this empty space.
You too can elevate learning to an art if you approach it with passion and
energy and take the time to balance you inner and your outer worlds.
Useful links in this kit
Self directed learning
Relaxation
