Academic Success

Ways I make time for art when studying for science exams

Teren explains how art and science can co-exist, even during midterm season.

November 13, 2025 By Teren

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Teren

YouAlberta is written by students for students.

Teren (he/him) is a second-year student studying conservation biology in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences (ALES). ​​Originally from Treaty 6 Territory, Sherwood Park, Teren can often be found all around campus, working on course work or writing.
When not studying, Teren is an emerging voice in Edmonton's literary scene. He's an avid writer, frequently attends open mic nights, and recently won the 2025 CLC Poetry Contest. Look for him to be the featured writer at the Olive Reading Series in March 2026. Teren is currently shaping his poetry collection into a manuscript, with the goal of becoming a published author.

As a student in the sciences, my time for art often gets lost. This is especially true around midterms and finals. As a writer, this just plain sucks.

If you're an artist, writer or musician in STEM, you may connect with this. There must be ways for us to both be in the sciences and enjoy art. 

Here are a few ways I connect with art during the busy midterm season.

Schedule time to make art.

Our lives are surrounded by schedules. We make time for classes, work and studying. Why can’t we do the same for art?

When my schedule is busy, I block out an hour or two to paint or write. I’ll spend the time creating references with Pinterest boards or painting for future Christmas gifts. As long as I don’t look at a single flashcard during this time, I win. 

This is not only enjoyable for me, but gives me time to recharge so I can focus on my studies with fresh eyes.

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Go to art events in the evenings and weekends.

My day time is dominated by school and work, but the weekends are still mine. Even if you have a part-time job on the weekends, like I did last year, you can find an hour or two to go to a gallery or an open mic night.

The has free admission for students with a valid student ID, and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, as well as varying hours during the week. There are always exciting exhibits, as well as fun .

If you’re more of a writer than a painter, there are also open mic nights to read work and listen to local writers share. There’s an open mic at least once a week in the city. With a quick Google search, you can find so many opportunities. I love going to these and have been known to bring my study material.

Have a coffee date with a fellow artist.

Thirty minutes in a cafe always feels weirdly special to me. When you have a friend who loves to read, write, draw, paint or make music who you can talk with, art seems within reach. 

I may not have a lot of time in my schedule, but I can make time to stop and chat with a friend for a few minutes.

Recently, I had the opportunity to have coffee with , a local poet and author of Confirm Humanity. Our conversation made my afternoon. We talked about writing, politics and the literary community in Edmonton and surrounding areas. 

This was right after my midterms, and such a good time. Having these dates with friends can be a fun time when school is hard.

Make art about science.

I’ve spent too much time in biology classes to not make use of what I learned. My summer job in a lab has ended, but I can still use this knowledge outside of my coursework.

I’ve written short stories with facts about pine trees. I’ve painted pieces about seals and sharks. And, I’ve performed poems about being transgender in the sciences. 

I’m a STEM student, an artist and proof that anyone can be both.