Why we write the way we do...

Most academic paper's are set with a standard. It is what we were taught when we were younger. That specific font, that bland white paper, and that formal heading on the top. I'v honestly always wondered what would happen with one of my grades, if i decided to go out of the box. Maybe with a fun font the express how i feel or what i am talking about in my essay. Maybe a colored paper, that could be vibrant and interesting. And what if there was no heading...just my first name sitting on the top, would it offend my teachers? I always wonder, but i never get the courage to try. Maybe i should...