KidSpirit

Creativity in My Community

Creation and DestructionGlobal Beat

For the longest time I thought that my country, Pakistan, lacked the creative essence of life. Every citizen seemed to be chained by the shackles of society. With time, this view has evolved and I can finally see that there are parts of our community that do encourage creativity and always have.

There has recently been a revival of the arts and literature that have always been a part of our culture. Setups such as the “Rangeela Rikshaw” take people through the old city, which is dotted with heritage sites that are becoming increasingly popular. There are numerous festivals, such as the Datchi and Lahore literary festivals, that bring artisans and writers from all over the country under one roof. These are hosted every year and promote different cultural, historical, and literary activities in Pakistan. Multiple schools and colleges send their students. Local music is also becoming increasingly popular, and the emergence of studios and lounges propelled many talented singers to express themselves.

Various events are also hosted in honor of science and mathematics. These events encourage children to think out of the box, beyond what they are taught in textbooks. Creativity is what leads to scientific discovery, and that is what is expected by modern students of science as well.

Although I see most institutions and families encouraging creativity, there are still those who refuse to break the norms. Many children are forced to become doctors or engineers just because their parents want them too. If any of them dare to deviate from their set path and venture into a different world, one of performing arts or literature, they are often condemned and guilted into fulfilling what is expected of them, no matter how drab it makes their everyday lives. They are forced to accept what they are told -- that creativity is not the key to success.

This approach is what hinders social and cultural prosperity. Thus, society as a whole needs to accept creativity so that we flourish in all aspects of life.

Sara Naseer is currently completing her GCSE’s from Lahore Grammar School. She takes keen interest in dramatics, and mathematics is one of her favorite subjects.

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Art by Jaden Flach, Brooklyn