Arts Vanity: A Starving (Pre-Med) Artist’s Winter To-Do List

As a pre-med student who’s also involved in the artistic community at Harvard, winter recess is an important time to rest, relax, and remind myself that I’m still an artist, even though the only art I’ve done in the last month was draw a diagram of the cochlear duct (it was really detailed). To these lofty ends, I’ve created a detailed to-do list to maximize my artistic output during this upcoming holiday season.

Read the first page of ‘Demons’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky so I can tell everyone I’m reading ‘Demons’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Everyone knows the joy of reading is telling everyone else what you’re reading. Well, of course, that and adding things to your “currently reading” tab on Goodreads. Even though there’s no way I’m tackling hundreds of pages of Russian literature alongside studying for the MCAT this winter, it’s the thought that counts.

Listen to 400+ hours of Borodin.

While Russian literature might not be feasible, Russian music is the perfect choice for a casual 15-hour study session. Whether I’m looping “String Quartet No. 2” for the hundredth time or spicing things up with some Prince Igor, classical music is a genre must for a locked-in winter break. Borodin optional (but encouraged).

Actually read a different, lighter, and altogether less-impressive book.

It’s gotta be 200 pages or less and the fluffiest pick from my to-read pile. At least it’s progress. I have to actually read to earn my keep as an outgoing Books Executive. Or at least that’s what it says in my job description.

Keep up with the global artistic scene by watching Instagram reels.

As I like to say, work hard, play hard. More realistically: Work at all, scroll for three hours, take a much-needed break from working so hard, repeat. I like to keep my social media time productive by keeping a pulse on the artistic scene, like the viral dance to Charli xcx’s “Apple” or the dolphin leaping from the water to the tune of “Symphony.” Keeping track of pop culture is a job all on its own.

Remind everyone that I study Comparative Literature, too.

I like to think of Neuroscience as an artsy concentration — I’ve gotten really good at drawing brains. For those who remain less convinced, I am also pursuing a secondary in Comparative Literature, a field of study that I hold very dear. Every few months I like to remind everyone, perhaps with a cryptic literary quote on my Instagram story.

Tell everyone I’m working on a short story collection so I actually have to write something over break.

After an incredible creative writing class this semester, I’m entering break artistically driven and inspired. In all seriousness, I really am working on reading and writing more short fiction. I’ve been experimenting with body horror and medical horror and how that intersects with my scientific knowledge and aspirations. No matter how hard I try to separate my identity as an artist and a scientist, one thing is clear — they are inseparable and always will be. Maybe studying for the MCAT is the most artistic thing I’ll do over break, and maybe that’s an art all on its own.

—Outgoing Books Executive and incoming Editor-At-Large Aiden J. Bowers can be reached at aiden.bowers@thecrimson.com. He will not be sharing his Goodreads, but rest assured he is on there, somewhere.