The arts forces you to always try and give your best. I am a more disciplined person because the arts does not only rely on your heart but your mind as well. I have seen myself grow mature and disciplined beyond that of a typical teenager and that is something to be proud of. My school is something to be proud of. It encourages personal development, exploration, and evolution in a way that academics cannot.
Students grow as human beings when they are consistently encouraged to embrace their own creativity.
The arts have given me a reason to go to school, to have some purpose, to have some joy in my classes and in all of my life. It has strengthened my character and, most of all, my self esteem. I am much more confident in myself. After focusing on academics for so long, it's good to use another area of your brain. When you have arts in school, you are more than a student.