This week I was supposed to start working with the nonprofit LEAF in Schools and Streets. LEAF provides kids with the opportunity to learn different types of art such as theatre, dance, and music. LEAF also works to provide this for students from different nations as well as in the United States. I was going to be helping with a middle school hip-hop dance class for young girls in Asheville. I was really excited to be helping do this because I want these girls to release their excess energy and frustrations in dance as well as grow more confident in themselves as they dance. Unfortunately, because I am a freshman, I am not allowed to have a car so I have to rely on the bus, walking, and my bike. I was taking the bus from campus to transfer at the station in order to get to my destination in a short amount of time. The bus was late picking me up from campus so I missed my transfer and by the time the next bus came it was halfway through the class. By the time I actually got to the center I was an hour and a half late so I walked around and familiarized myself with the area.
Even though I never got to meet the students in the class or the teacher I got to meet a very interesting woman at the bust stop. Her name was Louis and I talked to her about the state of education in America at this time. We discussed how youth have lost their creativity and imagination due to television and computers doing it for them. Both of us agreed that youth need arts education in order for the United States to remain a super power.
I didn't get to do what I intended that day but i did get to meet someone that gave me the hope that I am not the only person who believes that arts and education go hand-in-hand.
