G-Sync – Don't Knock Opportunities

Last week was a roller coaster of a ride for those of us who love the arts in West Michigan.

Right after this column's A Call For Entries editorial hit everyone's email boxes last week, it was my turn to get jammed with messages -- email, Twitter, Facebook, text messaging, even good old  face-to-face conversations.

The topic -- my disappointment that there wasn't a single entry from the largest school system in our metropolitan area to the regional Scholastic Arts Award competition -- brought out spirited debate. Opinions ranged from "we need to reform the entry system" to "sometimes the truth hurts."

Some even said that I was too easy on the whole country's education system, where we continually devalue the role of arts in our children's education even though the data all suggests its importance.

By the tone of the messages, it seemed to me the majority recognized how a sound arts education in their formative childhood years had profoundly influenced their careers.  

I couldn't have agreed more. As I addressed the winners at the Scholastic Art Awards on Sunday organized by Kendall College of Art and Design and held at St. Cecilia's Music Center, I lost my place in my copy and just let my heart take over.

"You may not end up as a full-time fine artist," I told the students, parents and teachers who filled the auditorium, "but you will take that creative 'I wonder if' spirit of discovery and apply it to everything you do."  I reminded them that a scientist is also an artist and that the future is wide open to innovative minds.

Twenty minutes before my address, I also discovered that my column of last week wasn't entirely accurate. One Grand Rapids Public School teacher had entered two students, one who won an award in the competition.  I acknowledge my error and applaud the dedication of that teacher who made sure two students were encouraged to participate.

The comments I received last week after my column ran were overwhelmingly constructive -- much more prone to talk about how to get more people on the bus rather than finding someone to throw under it. And I hope that someone will emerge as a leader to make sure that all students of the Grand Rapids Public School system will be encouraged to submit their works for next year's competition.  Please write me if that leader is you.

In the end, I was really encouraged once again by the roll-up-your-sleeves attitude in West Michigan.  

But it was two friends, Kimberly Lester and Shore Magazine's Mary Sorensen, who posted a comment on my Facebook page that wrapped it up and brought it all home, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."  Signed, Sir Winston Churchill.

While we are on the subject of opportunity and optimism, please consider attending the launch of Rapid Growth's new speaker series where the first topic will be "Touting Michigan."  

This new monthly series, sponsored by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), will look at the exciting changes taking place in our city and around the region.  The event is free but you will need to pre-register here.

Again, The Future Needs All of Us.


Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor

Email:  [email protected]
Twitter Ramblings: @TommyGSync


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Photo provided by Brian Kelly.


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