The arts and science are equally important, yet they have always been valued against each other. How many times have we been asked “are you a more science or humanities based?”. It’s all one or the other unless you’re an all-rounder. How many people do you know who are studying both maths and english?  Science is incredibly useful. It helps us understand the world we live in but from a factual perspective. Yet the arts are as significant, as they help us understand the world we live in from a creative perspective. However, more weight is given to the sciences. The arts are side-lined in comparison.

Has it taken a global pandemic for people to value the arts more? They have certainly helped entertain us during lockdown. Having a creative outlet is really important, especially when life feels up in the air and uncertain. Movies, books, writing, learning a new language, painting. The list goes on. With so much free time on my hands, I’ve really appreciated being able to put my feet up and watch a movie, get lost in a new book, pour my heart out on paper and learn a new language, whilst dreaming about the world that will open up for me. All these forms of entertainment have kept me sane.

I’ve learnt guitar for the first time, been involved with a Spanish radio show and joined a poetry circle, whilst binge watching Good Girls, Friday Night Dinner and Insatiable on Netflix. The radio show was such a fun way of engaging with my passion for languages, and feeling connected to Spain and Hispanic culture. I’ve always wanted to learn guitar, and being able to play different songs has been so rewarding. I loved meeting new people and getting involved with Inklight – the creative writing society at St Andrews. The poetry circle was a cool way of pursuing my love of creative writing, and delving into poetry was something new. I even learnt some Hawiian on Doulingo – I thought why not. I’m now very confident saying ahola – I’ll be well-prepared when visiting Hawaii! Expressing myself in a new language and finding out more about a different culture was fun. Having a way of saying who I was through language, music and writing made me feel more empowered.