To Wells Fargo | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

To Wells Fargo

I should have been a botanist.

41
To Wells Fargo
hangargallery.com

If you are a part of the fine arts community, you have probably seen this advertisement by the financial company Wells Fargo plaguing your news feed.

When I first read the ad, I thought it was a joke. I said, "surely this is not real, surely someone photo-shopped this." Well, I was wrong and this is, in fact, an actual real-life, bona-fied slap in the face to what I am doing with the rest of my life. Not only are these statements incredibly offensive to anyone involved in the arts, but it devalues everything we have been working towards. I know that I am not the only one infuriated by this act. Several Broadway stars, actors, dancers, musicians, educators, and artists have voiced their outrage at this blatant disregard for an entire field of work. Now it's my turn, so listen up Wells Fargo.

You are right. The world needs people who are going to grow up and better their communities. Botanists, engineers, nurses, police officers, government officials, and even the postal workers all contribute to and enrich their societies day by day. The world needs these people. But now I am asking you to think a little deeper. When you finally make it to your car at the end of a long day, sometimes all you want to do is sit there and listen to your favorite song and forget about that coffee you just spilled down your shirt for the second time today. Maybe you've been looking forward to relaxing on the couch and binge-eating popcorn with that new movie everyone has been raving about. Perhaps you're redecorating and are searching for that perfect wall-piece to hang in your living room to make the place a little brighter. That romantic first date you've been planning involves a night on Broadway and maybe a candlelit dinner to top it off. Do you think a botanist is going to sing you to sleep? Do you think an engineer is going to paint a beautiful canvas piece for you? Do you think a police officer is going to dance to Tchaikovsky and bring you to tears? My answer is maybe, but probably not.

The point is, the arts are everywhere. We are the real behind-the-scenes to life that you take for granted. Sure, we pop out a few songs, paint a few pictures, dance for a minute or two, play our instruments pretty well, and all that other jazz, but there is so much more to it. I have spent a better part of my life devoted to my craft, a craft that I believe is going to take me somewhere. I forked out good money so that I could go to college and learn more to better myself as an artist and as a musician. This is not my hobby, this is my life. I will spend my dying breath advocating for the importance of the arts and how they better society and people alike. Everyone has a role to play, and just because mine isn't specifically born of math, science, social studies, or English doesn't mean that it is not just as important.

I can guarantee you that anyone who is currently majoring in the arts or has made it through with a fine arts degree has thought about doing anything else with their lives. If you think that we don't know how difficult the road ahead for us is, then you have been sadly misinformed. I can't tell you how many nights I've laid in bed and thought, I should just switch my major to business and sing on the side. Society has programmed us to think that this field is purely recreational and that a career in the arts will provide nothing more that cushion money. Sometimes faith is the only thing that keeps me in this line of work, but sometimes that's all I need. Pursuing a career in the arts is one of the hardest things a person can do for a number of reasons. If you possess neither a talent nor a love for it, then the fire you have will die quicker than you can hum a sixteenth note, and then it's back to the drawing board. When people ask me about my major, I can almost hear the pity in their voices. It's funny to me because I may be in one of the least financially stable career fields, but I have never been so rich in my life.

Music gives me what nothing else can. It's almost an indescribable feeling, which makes me understand why Wells Fargo didn't see that. If you've never stood in front of a painting and felt the emotion of it almost overwhelm you, then I can't help you. If you've never listened to someone pour their soul out in song until they had nothing left to offer you, then I can't help you. If you've never seen a dance that took your heart out, reshaped it, and handed it back to you, then I can't help you. The arts are expression in a tangible form. The feeling of stepping out of your comfort zone and exposing your innermost workings to an audience of strangers is an extremely intimate and euphoric experience. Knowing that I have the power to change someone's life with a single performance is as terrifying as it is beautiful. The arts help us connect, they bring us together and make us feel. Without them, the world would truly be black and white.

Just as the world needs botanists, we also need ballerinas. We need designers, we need sculptors, we need musicians, we need photographers, and we need actors. Don't degrade something because it doesn't seem practical to you. If we truly want to prepare our teenagers for tomorrow, then we won't strip away their joys and their dreams. Let them choose and let them find what drives them. Whether they become an engineer or a painter, that is their decision, and the freedom of choice is the most powerful thing they can have. So Wells Fargo, in case you still don't get it, I say this with as much clarity as humanly possible— I am a musician yesterday, I am a musician today, and I am a musician tomorrow. I always have been and I always will be.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1502
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

911
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200089
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20808
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments