Mia Morreli- Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) -In a world focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) careers, many students wonder where art fits in. At Lakewood Ranch High School, pottery and art teacher Samantha Hayes believes that art isn't just relevant in high school but is essential in life.
“Art plays a major role in our society,” Mrs. Hayes explains. “It fosters creativity and critical thinking. It lets students innovate, experiment, and communicate through another language.” While STEM focuses on more technical skills, she said art provides something STEM cannot, which is the freedom to imagine without limits.
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But art’s impact goes beyond the classroom. Hayes emphasizes that creativity is a key skill in the workforce, no matter the career.
“Art teaches students to think outside the box and become problem solvers,” she said. “They learn to work together, take chances, and experiment. Those skills matter everywhere.”
She also points out that many of today's biggest products began with artistic thinking. “There are car designers, phone designers, computer designers – all these fields involve art,” she said, “Art trains students to become the next big innovators in product design.”