Why Every Nerd Needs a Creative Side
Leonardo Da Vinci, architect, mathematician, scientist, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, astronomer, paleontologist, cartographer, and botanist, Leonardo Da Vinci. A left-brain thinker if there ever was one. Some of you think of Da Vinci and think of how much he accomplished and discovered that we still benefit from today. I mean, what is Da Vinci without his Vitruvian Man and his dedication to human flight?
Actually, he is an artist. It is equally fair to ask, what is Da Vinci without his Mona Lisa, without The Last Supper? Some people think of Da Vinci and they think of a sculptor, a painter, a musician, a historian, a writer.
Both sides of Da Vinci, his “nerdy” side and his artistic side, help make him so great even today. Had he focused only on mathematics, we may never have had the chance to appreciate his “Head of a Woman” or “Leonardo’s Horse”. And vice versa, had he only concentrated on his music, we may not have had drafts for today’s war machines. Take it from Da Vinci, it is not so bad to be a “jack of all trades”. Though we live in a time different from Da Vinci’s, the concept still applies, just in a different way.
Nerds of the world, do not count yourself out of being an artist. & Artists, do not think yourself unable to function amongst a group of nerds. All are capable of having both artistic and nerdy characteristics and it really is to your benefit.
Today, employees are not just looking for strategists and folks who can “crunch the numbers”. They are looking for creativity and innovation. Marketing is one growing industry that requires imagination. But to go along with that imagination, there is also a statistical component as well as a research component to marketing. Well-roundedness is something that all employers can value. (Insert fact)
Another reason to have both an artistic side and a nerdy side is to network. If there is one thing that you learn in college, it’s that it’s not necessarily what you know, but who you know, and better yet, who knows you. So express yourself, make your abilities known, learn the abilities of others, and network!
Reason number three to be both artistic and nerdy is, both can have a way of relaxing you. It’s is more obvious that art is a calming agent. Being imaginative has been known to decrease negative emotions and aid in preventing depression. For you artists, trying some math or science may be something new to try that just re-centers you and lets you know that there are some definites in the world.
Reason number four is, no matter how left-brained a left-brainer may be or how right-brained a right-brainer may be, there are still two sides to the brain that compliment each other. You may not think they need each other, but to be a better functioning human being, both are necessary
This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!
Cynthia M. Sharpe, is a May 2015 graduate of NC State University. Cynthia graduated with a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing and currently aspires to pursue an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. “As I let my own light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Cynthia M. Sharpe, inspired by Marianne Williamson