College or school fests are nostalgic. I fondly remember the days when I enjoyed the thrill of being backstage, on stage, behind the scenes with all the chaos…. the good… the bad… and the ugly… not to mention, the anxiety and excitement of waiting for the fest…. and finally the feeling of ‘now what?’… ’Oh..it’s over!’… This is a phase that never comes back, and all of us cherish those memories forever.
I was honoured to be a part of St. Francis College’s online fest, ‘Skillenza’ on 29th October 2020. Supporting art and culture is a matter close to my heart, and one of the causes Shilpi’s Voice & Visuals has taken up towards bridging art and philanthropy.
It was delightful to be invited by Ms. Sameera Fernandes – Director of Strategic Planning and Dean of the college.
I am sure, everyone including me wished the event was real or live. However, it was no less exciting, and the current situation didn’t deter them from organizing the event.
Since the event was all about talent and performance, I decided to touch upon – Creativity… one of the most fascinating aspects of being born as a human being. Creativity is essential for human expression. All of us pursue artistic expression and enjoy creative productions, daily. That we are taking this forward by facilitating events online, signifies creativity in technology.
When we think about creativity, we associate it with highly creative people like Tagore, Satyajit Ray, MF Hussain, AR Rehman, Da Vinci, Beetles, Mozart, Beethoven. They were all creative geniuses and are celebrated for their unique talents, accomplishments, and masterpieces they created in their lifetimes.
While big creativity is valued and celebrated, it is often the smaller creativity that has allowed humans to flourish over thousands of years. It sets us apart from animals and it is fostered through our education system and beyond, into the workplace. All of us can’t be geniuses, but we all possess certain creative attributes that help us in decision-making and solving life’s problems.
Have you ever had an AHA! Moment— the one where an idea or solution comes to you seemingly out of nowhere? This feeling is a form of creativity.
Creativity is about coming up with original and unconventional ideas or strategies. When we execute the idea and convert it into a work of art or an invention or a successful business – it is innovation. The interesting fact is, creativity is also about solving problems.
When Thomas Alva Edison, the greatest innovator of all time said “Innovation is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”, he meant creative thinking is critical to problem solving and innovation.
So, whatever the future unfolds for us, we must pursue our creative interests. Exploring our hidden potential and pursuing our talents by finding a Coach, Guru or Mentor to sharpen those talents, enable us to put them to use professionally.
It’s our creative pursuits that keep our soul alive, happy, and content in the long run.
PS: I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Sameera Fernandes and other staff of St. Francis College, all the attendees of Skillenza, and its support team. I hope to have added value to their thoughts and wish them all the very best for their future endeavors. We are into the creative space and believe in encouraging and supporting new and talented artists. If any of you feel the need to consult me further on pursuing creative skills or a career in creative arts, I will be most willing to help. Do get in touch with me with your queries.