Let's head to Princeton.
It's a long way from home. Besides a change in scenery and creative space, my transition to college has lead to changes in my perceptions of creativity and creative identity.
1
DEFINING
CREATIVITY
College has graced me with perspective. Shaped by people around me, extracurriculars, and Princeton courses, I have a new understanding of creativity and my creative identity.
Creativity is for artists.
My quadmates and I could not be more different. Between our hometowns, majors, and hobbies, it's incredible that we've gotten along. But one thing brings us together: we can't decorate. Our dorm's common room is a bare space with four desks, four chairs, and a single, half-shattered mirror.
Despite no artistic eye, these ladies are some of the most creative I've ever met. One can write the most incredible, outside-of-the-box papers. Another can form a fabulous outfit with the most unassuming clothing items. The last one can come up with a good joke with the snap of her fingers.
Creativity and STEM don't mix.
I came to Princeton as a mechanical and aerospace engineering major. In the MAE fashion, I joined Princeton Racing Electric, a club dedicated to building electric racecars. A massive club, the students were undeniably good at math and science. The vast majority also had an eye for design.
PRE was my first formal introduction to engineering design. Witnessing it firsthand erased boundaries that I had internalized between artists and engineers. Engineers were creative, and artists of their own.
Creativity is genetic; I was simply missing the gene.
Immersed in my Princeton classes, I had the chance to explore disciplines I never had before. I took a computer science class, tried a journalism class, and went out on a limb and enrolled in an entrepreneurship class. It was hard and stressful, but under the stress, I found that I could do things I never had before. I gained confidence and an understanding of the depth of my own creativity.
Creativity is simply the capacity to "think differently" to generate new and innovative ideas or solutions to problems.
2
MY CREATIVE SELF
Throughout my first year at Princeton, I've experimented with my creative strengths and I've grown to understand myself better as an innovator.
I enjoy finding the best ways to communicate ideas to others.
I've learned I love to capture the attention of others and share ideas. I find presenting to groups exciting and engaging. While presenting information effectively is a challenge, I feel well equipped to adapt to different audiences and present confidently.
In Princeton's introductory journalism class, I have learned about the importance of the news and media. I've also learned how to write in a journalistic style to communicate complex ideas to widespread audiences. I find journalism important and intuitive. Next year, I hope to join the campus newspaper to advance these critical writing communication skills.
I love to find songs for others. The people who I know well frequently receive Spotify reccomendations from me and I often create perfect playlists as gifts for others.
I am a member of Princeton's Engineers Without Borders. This summer, we will travel to Kenya to engage in our first phase of our water design project. We won't start building; instead, we'll engage with members of the community to understand and adapt to their needs.
I can identify the needs of others, which helps me better develop creative solutions.
Human-centered design is approach towards design which focuses on people. I am drawn to human-centered design because it involves working with the people who will be affected by a given product. This process appeals to my affinity towards forming relationships with other people.
I work well in groups and draw inspiration from collaboration.
My family and friends are the root of my inspiration. Tucked into the corner beside my bed is a collage of photos of them. While I value privacy and time to think, I'm most inspired and active creatively when I'm with others who I trust.
Meet Team NJC. Throughout second semester, I've spent dozens of hours with this team creating an app to improve student life at Princeton University. With Team NJC, a group that I've grown to trust and work well with, I've learned a lot about the way I interact with a group. I brainstorm best in teams and am at peak creativity when I'm able to bounce ideas off of other people and expand on the ideas of others. I'm sensitive to the needs of my teammates and able to adapt to help them feel comfortable.
I am persistant and resiliant throughout the creative process.
I have recently selected computer science as my major. Although it is challenging and time-consuming to code, I relish the problem solving and breakthrough that comes with it. As a computer scientist, this tenacity and love of the troubleshooting process is essential as an innovator. I have the patience to stay with difficult problems for long amounts of time and enjoy what others may find tedious.
3
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
As I create, certain barriers remain in my way. The common thread is my desire for control, which inhibits my creative capacity. This year, I've learned some strategies for conquering these barriers.
the tried & true tendency
Every night, I set 5 alarms to ensure that I wake up in the morning. Although I've never not woken up for the first alarm, I continue to set the next four. Mirroring this alarm tendancy, I can find it hard to change my way of thinking when I feel as if I know how to do something already.
To combat this tendacy to stick with the known and the familiar, it is useful for me to work with others who challenge my preconceived ideas. In addition, leaving an environment that is comfortable and exposing myself to new things is a critical counter to my "tried and true tendency."
Breakthrough: Exposure to the New
the calculator complex
I am good at math and can do simple math problems quickly in my head. However, I'm constantly using my calculator to verify the simplest of computations, such as the square root of 9 or 10 x 10. In this way, I find it hard to trust my own ideas and innovative solutions, blocking my creative process.
To avoid the creative blocks that come with self-doubt and second guessing, I've found it important to reflect on my strengths to put into perspective what I'm capable of. I also find it's helpful to set timers and do things for fixed amount of times to avoid falling into the "calculator complex."
Breakthrough: Grounding the Self
the inauthentic image
My wall is decorated with Matisse art, which I purchased in a multipack from an Amazon prime account. It was trending on social media and something "everyone" seemed to be getting to decorate their dorm rooms in the fall. I don't know anything about art-- or even who Matisse is-- and these little posters don't reflect me in the slightest. They represent my tendency to be influenced by others and lose my own creative pull.
Avoiding an inauthentic image comes mostly from within, and requires reflection on my values and preferences. At Princeton, removed from the comfortable, unchanging environment of home, I've been able to latch onto what it is that I really like. Breaking away from an "inauthentic image" requires movement away from what is mainstream.
Breakthrough: Separation and Reflection
the shut-down shortcoming
When I think of my future, I think of a big city. I can't imagine myself anywhere else-- to me, the city is exciting, full of life, and home. My friends at home share this perspective. However, at Princeton, I've met people who shy away from the city and imagine their future in a suburb or the country. At first, I was dismissive; I couldn't understand how they possible would want this for themselves.
This "shut-down shortcoming" extends itself into group work. Sometimes, without knowing it, I'll fail to hear someone out or I'll shut them down without seriously considering an idea. To combat this, I've started to challenge myself to really think before speaking in group settings and push myself to evaluate others' ideas differently than my own. I also try to be less harsh with my own ideas and more open minded.
Breakthrough: Take A Breath
