College is expensive. (I don’t have to tell you that, especially if you’re the one paying the tuition bills.) You want your freshman to be able to get the most “bang for your buck,” which also means you don’t want to spend money on unnecessary costs.

As you look over your freshman’s classes, you may not be thrilled with some required electives. You’re paying money now to set your child up for a future where they can be profitable. So why is your freshman required to take classes on the arts?

The value your freshman receives from these courses likely will never be tied to a dollar amount or a salary. What your freshman receives as a result of taking these classes is far more valuable than a dollar. Below are 3 life lessons studying art teaches your college freshman.

Studying art teaches your freshman empathy.

Before explaining how art teaches empathy, let’s define some terms. What does “studying” mean here? Studying in this scenario isn’t referring to selecting art as a major but rather taking some fine arts courses. Which brings us to art, what does “art” refer to in this scenario? Art here is referring to all types of fine art: theatre, music, paintings, etc.

So how does studying art teach empathy? Studying art helps your freshman to see life from another perspective. It requires your freshman to step away from their own point of view. It also helps your child see life in a different time: what life used to be like, what life looked like before they were born, what life could be like long after they’re gone.

Seeing life differently is a life skill. It enables your freshman to think, speak, and act in a more informed way. It enables your freshman to see the importance of donating, volunteering, and even voting to help the whole. It helps your freshman to think outside themself. 

Studying art teaches your freshman how to assess value.

Value, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Your values are likely well-established, resulting from your own life experience. Your freshman’s values are likely still being formed.

One way in which you can see what your freshman values is in the art they consume. TV shows, music, and more reveal much about what your freshman values (though they likely don’t realize this yet.) Your freshman, whether they admit it or not, is revealing they value the art they consume because they’re investing time in it.

Liking products of popular culture certainly isn’t a crime. If your freshman was completely removed from pop culture, they’d probably struggle making friends with their peers. But studying fine art helps your freshman see long-term value.

There is a reason why certain artists (e.g. musicians, composers, playwrights, painters, etc.) have survived the test of time. There is a reason whole museums or performances are dedicated to their works. They have value.

Your freshman may not understand why they’re valued, but taking time to study the composition or process in which artists used to create these works of art will help your freshman approach seemingly stale subjects with a new appreciation.

Studying art broadens your freshman’s experiences.

For most college freshmen, going to Shakespearean plays, art showings, or classical music performances isn’t part of their usual schedule. Pushing themselves to have different experiences and (in turn) exposing themselves to different entertainment than they would normally consume can be life-changing.

Encouraging your freshman to engage with art and aim to understand it is a worthwhile goal. Intaking fine art helps your child to a new world, one with many worthwhile topics to explore. Without these experiences, their world stays small and remains limited to today’s context.

Art matters. It has the ability to express deep thoughts, feelings, and experiences. But your freshman may be stuck in the context of their own experiences if they never explore fine art from the past. While not every freshman should pursue art as a profession, every freshman should study the fine arts to grow in empathy, the ability to assess value, and broaden their experiences.