*Note* Author of this blog is more impressed by facts and figures than art and music. In fact, she is reading an economic report while typing this rather than reading any sort of “fun” magazines that most her age enjoy. However- a connundrum arose a few days ago when she learned her new boss was the creative type. It got only slightly worse when she noticed that her tour for the day was interested in learning about the arts. (Please excuse how un-creative this blog may be).
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The weather was only 90 degrees,
The campus had a mild breeze,
My boss had changed over night,
Nothing about the day felt right.
I couldn’t find my time sheet,
My entire work space was clean and neat.
Nothing was where I left it last,
“Please,” I muttered
“Let this day go fast!”
I was told
My tour would show,
He liked musical tech
And that was all I would know.
Jimmy and his mom were waiting,
So I went up to say, “Hi”
He looked excited
And I had no idea why.
~~
On with the story in my traditional left-brained dominated manner. I was spitting out facts and figures through the entire tour until we were walking down Dodge Hall. I explained about the building renovations when he literally interuppted me to ask, “If you could have any car in the world, what would you want?”
Having never been asked that, I did not have a proper response. It was the simplest most creative moment I have had giving a tour this year. In fact, this tour literally changed my views on the campus.
Rather than showing him Kanesville, he asked if he could substitute that for the Arts Center. Well…sure?! Who am I to deny a student a request that simple? I didn’t know if the arts center was even open to tour so we headed that way just in case.
Jimmy and his mother were absolutely astonished when they opened the doors to our arts center. We ran into a lady who let us all in the upper balcony- which I had never been into! Jimmy was the most excited person I have ever met! “Wow,” he said. ” Most other colleges don’t have this going for them!”
The nice lady we ran into showed us the black box theatre. Jimmy’s mom pulled me aside and mentioned that her kid was literally acting like a “kid in a candy store!” Jimmy was the most enthusiastic kid I have met.
His eyes got really big and you couldn’t help but smile and feel the same excitement he had. As he walked around the black box he started talking at a faster pace; mentioning all of the experience he had with lights, musical tech, and in his band. He fell in love with our campus and our programs.
Jimmy taught me something that day. Not only did my work space turn from a gray cubby hole into what I call “pixie land”, my to do lists turn into “busy bee checklists”- but I learned just how important it is for right brained people to walk among us left-brainers.
Who wants facts when there can be fun? Who wants gray when there can be orange? Why look at a building and remember the square footage, year of renovations, and main purposes when you can look at a building and think, “I am lucky to have found this place?!”
I was so excited to see that arts center. It is a beautiful facility. I want to thank Jimmy for showing me a part of the campus that I have never been in (despite over 100 tours)!
Jimmy inspired me that day. How often do you ask a complete stranger what their dream car is? How often do you catch yourself smiling just because the person next to you is?
I’ll tell ya something, I may not be much of a poet (like I was as a kid). I may not be able to make my work space look pretty, or dot my “i” with an *, or even be able to pick out a good outfit that matches. I may not ever be able to appreciate the lighting behind a play, or the ironic twists in the plot. I may play with stocks instead of hair clips- but I can completely appreciate those who can.
Cheers to creative people everywhere! Without you- I would be lost!
