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We need the NEA to provide learning opportunities in these areas outside of arithmetic, that develop us into more passionate, caring, and well-rounded individuals.

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The maxim is no longer “take a bunch of shots, and some of them will be good.” The maxim is you have one chance to take a perfect, professional photograph.

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It breaks my heart to hear people say that they’re “not smart” just because they’re not a straight-A student.

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I remember being the most distracted. I wasn’t doing quite as well in school as I had been before, and my concentration was dropping significantly. For the first time in my life, I had to get help outside of school to keep my grades up.

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Doing theatre won’t turn you gay, but you may have several women pining for you if you can sing and dance and aren’t a terrible human

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After going to class from 7 until 3, having private lessons from 3 until 5, and then rehearsals from 6 until midnight, a 9 to 6 where you don’t have a full hour for lunch feels like a cake walk. We’re cool.

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The reason we’re trained to feel this way is because somewhere along the line, society has decided that art is no longer worth pay. And as long as people think that, the arts will be an industry full of untapped talent that will eventually crumble in on itself because not every creative person has the luxury of working to pursue their dreams for free.

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While any of them pursue practical careers in law, medicine, teaching among other things, some parents pursue careers in the arts, writing, advertising and music. For kids who grew up with ever-so-creative parents, life was usually vibrant and meaningful.