The effort required to fit in can make these teens feel wary, frustrated, or tired.For some teens, the end of high school is a bittersweet time. They are ready for the next chapter but also longing for the memories of high school to last just a bit longer. Yet for others, the end of school is a welcome rite of passage out of a challenging and lonely experience. The struggle in traditional high school leaves some creative teens, perhaps including you, eager to move on.
A Bad Fit
High school is often portrayed as the best years of a young person’s life—full of friendship, learning, and growth. However, for many artistic and creative teens, these years have been more challenging than fulfilling. They may not always fit in well with their peers due to their unique perspectives and innovative approaches to life. The effort required to fit in can make these teens feel wary, frustrated, or tired. High school is a bad fit for their personality.
Peer Connection
There is often an assumption that in a medium or larger size high school, everyone should be able to find a peer group where they connect. Many assume students will make lifelong friendships. But the reality is often very different for some students. Peer connections can be hit-or-miss, and the challenge arises if cliques are already established or unwelcoming to new members.
Different Ideas of Social Fun
If a creative teen doesn’t enjoy attending sporting events, partying, or mainstream movies, they may find even when included, they have a different idea of a fun evening. Activities that promote creativity, such as making music, painting, or designing trivia games, may not appeal to their peers as much as they do to the teens themselves.
For students whose interests may be different from the mainstream, it may be challenging to find, make, and sustain close friendships in school. Reaching out to people who are constantly focused on things that are not really of interest to you can be frustrating, tiring, or isolating.
Lack of Acceptance
Artistic teens often express themselves in ways that differ from what is considered typical, whether through their dress, the music they enjoy, or their perspectives on life. This can sometimes make them targets of misunderstanding or even subtle bullying by their peers who adhere to or value more conventional interests and behaviors. Social media enables anonymous harassment or creates an emotional distance that encourages teens who would never be mean face-to-face to say horrible things from behind a screen..
High school social dynamics can be unforgiving for those who stand out, often causing artistic teens to struggle to find acceptance among their peers. Though we encourage teens to stand up for themselves and be true to their beliefs, this also goes agains the adolescent desire to fit in. When artistic teens honor their unique perspective it may be rejected by their peers. This lack of acceptance can be isolating, leading to feelings of loneliness and a sense that one does not belong. For teenagers, who are at a critical stage of developing their identities and self-confidence, such experiences can be particularly painful.
The Clash of Creative Minds and Standardized Education
Artistic, creatively minded students typically thrive in environments that encourage exploration and self-expression. However, with pressure to ensure funding continues to be available, many high schools prioritize standardized education. The heavy focus on subjects like mathematics, science, and reading may be geared toward ensuring high scores on standardized testing.
These subjects at higher levels may not engage someone pursuing a creative career. This fundamental mismatch can lead to a lack of engagement among artistic teens, who may feel that their natural talents and interests are being sidelined.
These tests often assess specific types of knowledge and learning styles, usually favoring logical and linear thinking over creativity and innovation. Artistic students may not perform to their best abilities under these conditions, which can be discouraging and damaging to their self-esteem.
Limited Resources for Artistic Development
Another significant challenge is the limited availability of resources dedicated to the arts within some school districts. Budget constraints and shifting educational priorities often result in cuts to art programs including music, visual arts, and drama. These limitations restrict artistic students’ opportunities to hone their skills within a school setting. The need to seek external training and resources pushes them to seek external training and resources and focus away from the school’s social and academic culture.
The Crucial Role of Community
A community that shares similar interests and values is more than just a source of friendships. It is a vital part of maintaining mental health and emotional well-being. A community provides a safe space where ideas and feelings can be freely expressed and validated, which is crucial for artistic growth and personal development.
Having community helps mitigate feelings of isolation by reinforcing that being different is valuable and that a creative perspective is appreciated. Like-minded communities can also offer practical support, sharing resources for artistic expression or collaborating on projects that enhance skills and visibility. When creative minds lack community within their school, their engagement often suffers.
Emotional Impact of Exclusion or Lack of Support
The emotional toll on artistic teens who feel unsupported or marginalized can be profound. Constantly battling a sense of exclusion or having to suppress one’s creativity to fit in can lead to serious mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. These emotional struggles often spill over into academic performance, further affecting a teen’s future prospects and their view of their capabilities.
Conclusion: Valuing Creativity in Education
The struggle of creative minds in traditional high schools can feel daunting. If your teen is in this situation, helping them find and connect to an artistic community can help them find better balance. Look for in-person or online programs that cater to like-minded teens where self-expression is encouraged and celebrated.
To help teens stay engaged in school, encourage them to look for places where they may be able to use their creative minds. For someone interested in photography, encourage them to offer to take photos for the school’s social media outlets. Suggest artists see if there are posters or other announcements they could design for the school.
If a disconnect with school is negatively impacting mental health, seek additional professional support. If alternative options such as an arts school, homeschool, or independent learning within the school are realistic possibilities, check if this would be a preferred avenue to complete their education.
The experiences of feeling misunderstood, marginalized, or stifled creatively can overshadow the supposed joy and camaraderie of high school. Allowing for more inclusive and flexible educational environments that celebrate creative teens’ minds will support their emotional well-being and lead to happier, healthier young adult artists ready to share their skills with the world.
