At Berkeley High School, art classes are more than just electives that fulfill graduation requirements — they are fueled by passion, creativity, and hard work. From choir to band, painting, drawing, ceramics, and theater, creative programs offer students a chance to express themselves freely, discover more about who they are, and connect with peers who share similar interests. Academic pressure can be overwhelming. However, with the right balance between academic studies and creative pursuits, students can immerse themselves in something deeply personal and collaborative. For many students, art classes provide a sense of freedom rarely found in traditional classes. “For me, my art classes are a lot more relaxing than normal classes because I don’t have to modify my ideas to follow rigid assignment rules,” Robin Firoozye, a BHS sophomore, said.
At BHS, the arts take many forms, providing students with opportunities to explore and develop their artistic expression. The choir and band teach discipline and enable students to further enhance their skills as a team, while also allowing other students to experience their peers’ music. Roberto Figueroa, a jazz teacher at BHS for three years, spoke about his experience with how the arts can impact a student’s life. “I see many students who have their daily lives impacted heavily at BHS. I work in the jazz department, and I see many students who have music, and being a musician has become part of their identity,” Figueroa said, “We have many students who play in musical groups outside of school and even get paid gigs outside of school. On a lesser scale, we have many students who look forward to a period where they don’t have to write or read a book and can just enjoy playing an instrument. It helps them have a mental reset and gives them joy at the same time.”
Theater allows students to embody different characters, which helps foster empathy and gain understanding. Dance classes provide outlets for students to express their emotions through movement and create something beautiful by working together. Painting, drawing, and ceramics all serve as forms of self-expression, to create something that helps someone understand themself better, while also allowing others to understand them. Art can tell a story that even books sometimes can’t. Interpretation can be different and shown in a less traditional way, which is the beauty of art. “The arts are different because there is no way to know everything there is to know about the arts, they are subjective and open to opinion and interpretation,” Figueroa said. Whether it is taking an art elective as a zero period, watching performances at BHS, or partaking in those performances, the arts at BHS contribute to the liveliness of the student community and the growth that comes out of it.
Not only does art help with self-expression and creativity, but it can also play a critical role in mental health.
“My art classes are way less stressful than my academic classes because they take way less brain power,” Anabel Orozco, a junior at BHS, said, adding, “Currently I take photography.” Students can find that being an active participant in art can give them confidence that grades may not always do. Being on stage, whether it’s performing poetry, singing a song, or partaking in a play, gives a sense of achievement and often boosts confidence. Arts can help students explore themselves and their culture, giving a deeper understanding of who they are. Not only can students understand their culture, but they can also acknowledge other cultures. BHS jazz is typically provided with the opportunity to be able to travel overseas every two years and experience an eye-opening dose of new culture. This provides students with firsthand experience of fostering an understanding of another culture.
“A student will likely never forget what two plus two is, but they probably won’t remember how to play a B-flat scale if they haven’t played in 10 years,” Figueroa said. Across the nation, art programs are being cut due to budget constraints and priorities being shifted. The arts are a crucial part of education, and cutting programs could have numerous negative effects on students. Figueroa said, “School feels like it has a narrow view of what the next generation can be. Artists have always shaped the culture, and if we didn’t provide that space, we would lose creativity and it would stifle student voices.” BHS arts have provided a great sense of community, identity, and belonging to those who pursue them. The arts are part of the students at BHS, and if they were ever to be lost, the voices of students would be lost too.