5 Reasons Why Creativity Is Just As Important As Literacy

In this present generation, it seems like the demand for complete literacy is stifling the creative nature. More and more, the need for acceptance and political correctness is overriding the innovative character.

Over time, this makes people less human and more a mechanical being. Not saying that literacy is unimportant but it must be balanced with creativity.

Here are 5 reasons why creativity is just as important as literacy:

Creativity Breeds Problem Solvers
Some of the most powerful and influential people in history have always preached to go against the grain. They did not gain such influence or power by following a set of guidelines, rules or, regulations. Mainly, because if you do, you will be mentally bound to the discipline of those rules, which will hinder your creative thinking ability.

I remember I had a teacher in primary school who would never allow us to use calculators when solving math problems because it would stop our brains from actually working. If you are always reliant on something or someone to do the work for you, what will you do when there isn’t a calculator?

Your Creative Nature Will Propel You Over High Hindering Walls
Many times when we are taught to follow a certain path, we expect things to turn out a certain way. But once we hit a wall or stumbling block, we are lost, thinking in our minds, “hmm, this wasn’t in the manual”.

This is the very time where improvisation is needed to continue on forward. Imagine learning to drive a car and being taught only to wash and fuel it. But having no clue how to change a tire, you would only get as far as the car tires.

Creativity And Literacy In Harmony = Infinite Possibilities
Most young adults at least 25 years of age and older can attest to the fact that the educational system has changed drastically. The system is now more geared towards creating minds that will adhere to instruction more than taking initiative in all things. Look at Evan Spiegel as well as Mark Zuckerberg.

Both creators of the top social networking sites in the world and both stopped their school studies to launch their projects. This is a perfect example of maximizing both creativity and literacy. Both started with the literacy of education and later on let their creative nature drive them, coming out with the best of both worlds in the end.

You, Will Expand Your Thinking
Many collaborative learning techniques have been used and are being used in studies and in normal life to increase efficiency in technology and reach business conclusions faster. Many behavior schools have conducted studies to see how different types of people learn and how they react when in a group setting with other personality types.

They’ve found that it can be very beneficial for people who are not open-minded to work cohesively with more innovative thinkers. This is because as they are physically seeing their work in action they learn to broaden their thinking much faster.

Creative Thinkers Will Most Likely End Up In A Position Of Great Authority
John F. Kennedy, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein are all very well known and influential names in history. No, they probably didn’t need a personal tutor, but one thing they all have in common is that they did not get to their positions by walking the already paved road, but by laying their own bricks.

Whether it was naturally done or not, their eccentric minds brought them to a position of leadership that stood out. This is with anything. Because you have so many people who are not innovative, it becomes obvious when you do what is different. Some may dislike you for it but it does bring about some natural superiority.

It is easy to be all creative. It is easy to be all literate. The challenge comes in finding the balance and fully utilizing both in harmony without allowing one to the extreme. Once you can harness this you can thrust yourself to success in all your attempts at anything you do in life.

Written by Annabelle Fee

Annabelle Fee is part of the Content and Community team within the tutoring community, sharing valuable content with their own community and beyond.