Does the Image in the Mirror Show You Art School Material?

Most people know the expression, "actions speak louder than words."  Yet, few listen to the meaning of their own actions.  Maybe it's because sometimes it can be brutal. 

Still, I often confront my college students to take an honest look at their actions, because I know it's really hard to become a working pro in art, and the sooner they know if they have what it takes, the better.  So why don't you try it?

If you're in high school and thinking that you want to go to art school to become an artist, let's examine your actions.  By actions, think of all the things that you do in the course of a day, a week, and during your free time.  Especially focus on the moments where you have choices of what to do.  These choices speak volumes, so listen to them. 

So, what do your actions tell you? 

Do you draw only or mostly when your high school art teacher gives you assignments? 

Do you doodle and draw only when you're "trapped," such as when you're stuck in a boring class? 

Do you draw much outside of school? 

Do you spend time drawing when most of your friends hang out, play video games, or interact online?

Do you draw much during weekends, holidays, and all the school breaks?

Do you get annoyed and possibly "bent out of joints" when a day goes by and you didn't get to draw? 

Do you have on-going and self-imposed art projects, and are you making weekly, if not daily progress on them without anyone pushing you?

If your actions reveal that you draw on your own, even when you could be doing other fun stuff, then you've got the artistic fiber.  However, if art is something you do mostly when instructed (say, by your teachers) or because there's nothing better you could do (when you're stuck in a boring class, and doodling is the only entertainment that won't get your teacher's scolding), then art for you is a diversion rather than a calling, and you should probably explore other areas for your college career.

For some of you, this realization may hurt.  Yet, it's important to have clarity when engaging in a long, difficult, and risky path.  And trying to become a professional artist is all of that:  long, difficult, risky, and more.  Yet, for people who "have it," it's a fantastic way of life.

Tuition's Cancer Tumors

Last month, I received an internal e-mail wishing well to an administrator, who spent more than 10 years at Cal State Fullerton, and who received a promotion at another university.  It so happens that I haven't dealt much with that lady, but I remember her as a nice person.  So in this commentary is not so much about her as it is about a big problem in too many higher ed institutions that's causing your tuition to grow unnecessarily.

The e-mail listed all the offices where she worked during her years at Cal State Fullerton.  Some of them have names like:

- Bureau of Research Development

- Freshman Support & Resource Group

- Center for Community Involvement

- Partnership for Internships

- Bureau of University Initiatives, Research, and Industry Collaborations

- Student Life Association

- Grant-Writing Support Center for Staff and Faculty

(I've changed their names to emphasize the general problem, rather than to pick on any specific office;  yet most universities have lots and LOTS of these entities): 

Here's a little secret:  30 years ago or so, not half of those offices existed, and universities did just fine.  While these offices didn't seem necessary then, they are now staffed with people who often have graduate degrees and therefore get salaries in the mid-to-high five-figures (and more than $100,000 for the heads of these offices).  If you add up all these salaries, almost every college is spending millions of dollars on strangely-titled personnel considered unnecessary 30 years ago. 

Where does the money come to pay those salaries?  Your tuition.

(And from taxes – your taxes - in the case of public universities).

Some administrators will disagree, pointing out that some of these offices run on foundation money or endowment funds (money given by charitable organizations or generous donors).  But then, ask yourself, why isn't the university using that money for student grants or for the general budget, namely, to lower your tuition?!

If you don't like this, what can you do about it?  Next time you hear university officials complain about their expanding costs as the reason why tuition must rise, don't buy into their argument.  Instead, tell them to cut their bureaucracy and focus on the classes.  Write to them directly.  Write letters to the editors.  Call TV stations.  Facebook about it, Tweet it!  Make a ruckus!  

It's a BIG problem, but a recent minor success has proven that public shame can force administrators to be a little less wasteful.