One of the biggest components in schools are the arts departments. I don't mean only drawing pictures and painting, but singing, acting, dancing, and playing instruments. For years, you've been participating in or attending school plays, concerts, and showcases. And, although at times they may be difficult to sit through, parents know that the pride and excitement each student has when their show is over makes it absolutely worth it. However, as budgets get tighter and attention goes toward other things, some schools are taking these arts departments away.

We can't let this happen. In fact, this is an emergency. Even in cases where they aren't being completely taken away, they are losing funding and being taken for granted. This too must stop. As we're going to explore throughout the rest of this article, school arts departments, are a way of self expression, a way to meet other students and make friends, a fun and beneficial hobby, a tool to build confidence, and a way of gaining experience for life.

I've been involved in the arts from a young age. In fact, I sang and hummed tunes before I talked. Even after the third grade when you weren't forced to participate in school Christmas concerts, I joined the chorus and kept performing. I was in my first musical at seven, and have been in dozens since. Now, in high school, I have added speech and debate team to my resume for creative and performing arts. It's my life. There are sometimes weeks in a row where I spend 14 hours a day, just because of my after-school activities. I'm so lucky to be part of a school district that fully supports the arts, which allows me more opportunities to perform, learn and grow; however, not every student in the world has that.

This is crazy, since arts programs offer so many benefits to schools and communities.To begin with, they are a great way of making money. They are also a good way for schools to sort of "show off" their students' talent and encourage their creativity. Not only these, but on a simple level, they give a sense of school pride after the latest musical or dance recital or art show. Schools and communities should fully support them because they bring people together and assist in creating the happy, proud, and friendly atmosphere we want between schools and the surrounding area.

But most importantly, we need arts departments because of their benefits to students. They are a crucial step to becoming comfortable with yourself and gaining confidence. From someone who is very involved, I have learned so much about myself, and people in general, while singing, dancing, and acting. They are also a great way of meeting friends. I have never been closer to a group of people in my life as I have my speech team. We are all so incredibly close and have made friendships I really believe will last a lifetime. It's a good way of spending time and a fun hobby to have.

At the top, though, is that arts are a way of expressing yourself. Whatever that means to you, a song or dance or painting is a way of you expressing a belief or idea. It's a way to show the world (and ultimately yourself) who you are. In a world of conformity and fear and trying to be like everyone else, knowing (and loving) who you are is crucial to making it anywhere in life.

Hopefully what you can take away from this is that whether you personally enjoy them or not, the arts are a necessity in the lives of students. Even though not every school is taking them away, the attitudes from everyone are not always the most accepting. I am lucky to be in a district that values the arts, but if you're not or happen to be part of the problem, hear me: We, as teenagers, as students, as human beings, need them! And we need you, even if you don't love them yourself, to understand them, to appreciate them, and to fight for them.