Creativity is, “The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness” as defined by Oxford Dictionaries. Today, creativity is a key driver in the global economy. However, in the majority of national education curriculums, creativity is perceived as secondary to many other subjects. In today’s world of global competition and complex problems, creative intelligence and innovative capacity are fast becoming requirements for personal and professional success. To foster and spread creativity, the first thing what we must do is to break the myth that creativity is a talent that only a few special people possess; something completely wrong, as we are all born with great creative skills and imagination. Creative intelligence and imagination exist in all children and parents see proof of this capacity every day. It is creative intelligence that lets us imagine, that allows our minds to shape things that are not present, which do not exist and what we never have experienced.

Creating a yearbook can be one of the most rewarding, yet challenging accomplishments of my school career. I first joined yearbook as a sophomore. Going into it, I did not realize the demand of time and diligence that joining the yearbook staff would take. However, despite the learning process of design and all the rules, I quickly fell in love with it. I thought it was so incredible that only about five people could take over 200 pages of blank pages and turn them into designed pages filled with vibrant memories. Joining yearbook also sparked my interest in photography. Soon enough, I started my own small business, Morgan Ann Photography. It started slow, but eventually, I got business. Towards the end of my junior year, everyone started asking me what I planned to do after high school. Uncertain, I told most people psychology because it seemed interesting, secure and safe. It wasn’t until I had a few people ask me what my dream was that I realized I should chase after my dream. Yearbook taught me to love designing and creating something beautiful out of nothing. Taking this, I decided I wanted to pursue a career in graphic design along with photography on the side.

Don’t get me wrong, creativity is something that is not always valued. Something like creating a yearbook may seem like such an easy task to most. However, when you take a step back and realize the amount of imagination and drive that it takes, you discover the truth. I have heard many criticisms and negative comments throughout my time on the yearbook staff. Now don’t get me wrong, criticism is valued and important. There is a level where criticism can be too much. Personally, my experience with creativity and yearbook is that you can spend hours, weeks, months on a project and pour your soul into it. There will always be someone to point out one error or to disagree with your design. You spend so much time editing photos to provide your school and students with the best quality it deserves. You spend so many tired nights, long hours, and more creating a book filled with the memories of an entire school year. Then when you finally publish it, the first comments you hear are what mistakes you made. This is not to say that there is no praise or positive feedback for the yearbook. We gain plenty of credit and thank yous. Also, there is criticism in nearly everything you do. It is near impossible to please everyone. However, I urge you to next time you think about criticizing someone’s creation, consider all the variables.

Creativity is a curse and a blessing. Never take it for granted. However, creativity takes so much effort that it brings out the best in each and every person. Joining the yearbook staff was no easy task, but it taught me so much. Yearbook taught me discipline, design elements, cohesiveness, how to use my imagination and best of all, it helped me discover my true passion. I hope everyone can find some passion that brings out the creative side in them.