During a time when we’re stuck in our homes and things seem dull, students are still finding ways to stay engaged and craft new ideas to keep the CEC gears turning.

Jack Paul, a junior software engineering major, is doing just that.

This semester, Paul is enrolled in ESP 252: Entrepreneurial Mindset: Creativity and Organization. Because of this class, he was intrigued by the idea of bringing more creativity to CEC. So he got to work. 

He and his group mates decided to make a pamphlet to discuss different creative mindsets that they’d learned. The goal? Provide a resource to encourage individuals to be the best they can be in their area of interest. 

“Our target audience is anyone who's looking to boost their creative edge,” Paul said. “Whether that be students, faculty, administration, or professional contacts, we wanted everyone to be able to reflect on how they can use creativity more effectively in their lives!” 

The pamphlet, titled “Creativity 101: A Creative Handbook for Dummies in a COVID World,” can be seen on the right. 

By Jenna Calderón, CEC Reporter

Column 1:
Creativity 101: A Creative Handbook for Dummies in a Covid World.

Column 2: Failure & Risks
Failure is when you do something and it doesn't go the way you want
Fear is what stops you from being creative.

Column 3: Creative Confidence
This means to trust, support, believe in, and act on your creative abilities.
Graphic that says "I can't. Yes you can."

Column 1: Curiosity
Always ask questions. No matter how stupid!
You should always be thinking about the topic. Remember never be afraid to question the norms.

Column 2: Empathy
It's about understanding their problems from their perspective.
You need to be aware of others' wants and needs.

Column 3: Collaboration
Work together with others to make sure your work stands out.
Without collaboration, your idea simply will not be unique.
Just because you thought of it, doesn't mean it's special. Sorry...

Column 1: Iteration
Keep working on your ideas even after you've thought of them.
Just because your idea works the first time doesn't mean you should stop working on it.
Graphic showing a cycle from build to learn to adjust to build, etc.
The best ones are re-thought of over and over and over and over again.

Column 2: Artifact
A physical representation of your idea in the real world.
Creativity can't just live in your head... it has to exist in the real world too!

Column 3: Ambiguity
It's okay for things to seem unclear or uncertain.
When you don't have a straight answer, you work harder to find the solution.

Column 1: Divergence
Coming up with lots and lots and lots of ideas, answers, or questions
Don't let your "voice of judgement" get in the way!

Columns 2 and 3: Now it's Time to Put Your Creativity to the Test
Put your "creative title" or "creative pursuits" in your social media bios and start introducing yourself as such. Ex. "My name is Firstname Lastname. I am a Writer and Entrepreneur."

The next time you are in an argument, interviewing a client, or even just annoyed by your grandma who won't stop asking you questions about your life, take a moment to stop and think "Where are they coming from?" and "What can I do to help?" Do this until it becomes second nature.

Cook a meal for yourself. The next time you go to make that meal, think of two or three different ways of how you could have made it better last time.

Every time someone tells you something or you learn some new information, ask multiple questions and wait for the response. Perform for the next 3 days and write down results.

For your next 3 homework assignments find people in your class. It is important to not copy, but ask them for advice and see what they like and what they didn't.

Try your luck and email everyone of your professors and ask for a grade bump or extra credit. Do you think everyone will say yes??

The next time you have an idea about something that could make your life better, draw a picture of it. Show two or three friends and get their feedback on it!

Put your divergence to the test! How many different toppings can you put on your pizza? Can you come up with over a hundred?

Quick! You have a task to complete! Do something with a bottle of water. That's it. That's the task.