The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the sun is setting after five p.m. for the first time in what feels like years. For most people, this is euphoric. It feels like a rebirth after months of freezing temperatures and grey skies. But when your entire life is about to change in only a few weeks, the warm sun on your skin also feels like a reminder that you’re running out of time; that your days of sleeping in and going out with your friends on a whim are numbered. At the same time, the fruits of your labor are within reach. The nights of staying up late studying until your eyes physically can’t stay open anymore are all worth it. Fewer instances can better encompass the word “bittersweet” than graduating from college.
Mostly, I’m optimistic and excited to begin a new chapter of life. But like most seniors, I’m sentimental about everything and desperately trying to soak in my last few times playing New York Times games in class, watching people play frisbee on the Quad, and grabbing my favorite sandwich from the deli by school after a night out. And if you’re anything like me, there’s only one way to process complicated emotions: listening to music. So, I’ve decided to compile a carefully curated list of songs that have been guiding me through this time. And whether you’re graduating from college or going through any other transformational period in your life, I hope these songs can help you as much as they’ve helped me.
- Good Riddance – Green Day
- 20 Something – SZA
- Long Live – Taylor Swift
- Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift
- You’re On Your Own Kid – Taylor Swift
- Slipping Through My Fingers – ABBA
- Scott Street – Phoebe Bridgers
- Motion Sickness – Phoebe Bridgers
- I Know The End – Phoebe Bridgers
- Ribs – Lorde
- Perfect Places – Lorde
- Vienna – Billy Joel
- Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
- Welcome and goodbye – Dream, Ivory
- Where’d All the Time Go? – Dr. Dog
And because I can’t end this list on songs that are too depressing, here are a few that feel more celebratory, like popping a bottle of champagne after walking the stage.
- The Spins – Mac Miller, Empire Of The Sun
- The Thrill – Wiz Khalifa, Empire Of The Sun
- Heads Will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
- Congratulations – Post Malone, Quavo
- It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over – Lenny Kravitz
- Bennie And The Jets – Elton John
So, while there’s no perfect way to feel about graduating and entering a new phase of life, at least there’s a soundtrack for the days that feel exciting, melancholic, or frankly frightening. Congratulations, seniors. Try your best to celebrate your accomplishments and embrace the new chapter ahead!