Photo Courtesy of senior Kaylie Hall

  San Luis Obispo High School is home to a flourishing community of artists, including many students who plan to continue their art in college.

Unfortunately, a lot of these students feel the stereotypical pressure from family and friends about how pursuing their art is a bad idea because it’s unstable and “nobody makes money in the arts”. Pushing this mindset onto artists, though, is incredibly toxic and prioritizes financial success over happiness and fulfillment.

  “We [artists] are often looked at as lesser than athletes who are, in reality, going into an equally competitive and unstable business,” said senior Maggie Zuniga. Constantly prodding artistic students with reminders of how difficult it is to succeed in the arts also only harms their self confidence and passion for what they love, while pushing the idea that other people going into different careers are superior to them. 

  Students also know that there’s a chance they won’t succeed, and it’s obvious that they’re willing to take that risk. “People think the only way to be successful in the arts is to be famous or the best in the business, which is not true. In reality, being the best is not how to be successful,” said Zuniga. 

  People go into the arts because they genuinely enjoy it, and want to spend their life doing something that they want to do instead of being forced into a STEM or athletic field and hating their career their whole life. Valuing people’s happiness should be a much higher priority than their capitalistic work value. “The arts is a pathway that I believe is very joy oriented. I follow the arts because it is something that genuinely brings me happiness,” said Zuniga.

  Additionally, the world quite literally runs on art. Actors and singers bring in millions of dollars each year, while companies like Netflix and franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel rake in billions as well. For example, musician Paul McCartney has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion, and Netflix is worth $194 billion.

  So next time you go to try and preach how unsuccessful someone is going to be because they’re going into the arts, please kindly mind your own business. 

Sources: Celebritynetworth.com Forbes.com