And all of a sudden, I’m sitting in a college library typing the final article of my freshman year, while listening to Mazzy Star. I’ve probably sat in this library writing article after article with earbuds in, playing music that matched my mood that day. As I’ve come to the end of my freshman year, I’ve thought about how vastly different my life was a year ago; half of my friends now were complete strangers, my biggest stress was plans for prom and I didn’t even know Her Campus existed.Â
As I mentioned previously, music is always playing in the background of my life, whether I’m studying or walking to class. I’ve always had a deep connection with music and just like how I’ve changed so has the music I listen to. The music I associate with my senior year is definitely different from the music I associate with my college freshman year. With that being said, I’ve curated a playlist of songs that perfectly encapsulate my freshman year, songs that got me through late-nights, remind me of special memories, represent who I am now and some have continued to follow me year after year.
- “Suddenly I See” – KT Tunstall
I chose “Suddenly I See” first on this playlist because all I wanted out of coming to Kent was to find who I really was outside of my small town. This song was what I played through my earbuds as I walked through the sunny campus to romanticize my first week of classes. One specific memory is when I completed my first interview as a reporter, and it couldn’t have gone any better. I walked out of the interview, turned this song on and imagined that I was a journalist frantically walking through the bustling streets of New York City. I truly felt like I found the perfect place for me.
- “Sue Me”- Audrey Hobert
Audrey Hobert is an artist I discovered at the beginning of the year. Her awkward personality and willingness to be herself were something that I hadn’t seen before in any other artist. This song was the soundtrack to my fall weekends of getting ready to go out with my friends, to frat parties and 18+ nights at the bar. It was all new and exciting, yet under it all, I was just like Hobert, an awkward girl who enjoyed dancing with friends.
- “Tis the Damn Season”- Taylor Swift
This song is always a staple for me during the holiday season, but this year it hit a little harder as this was the first year that I would be coming home and seeing people whom I hadn’t seen in months. I blasted this song in my car as I drove around my hometown over winter break, contemplating how different my life had changed within just a few months.Â
-  “Storms” – Fleetwood Mac
Midway through my first year of college, I noticed my anxiety getting worse, tight chest, short breath and tons of uncertainties. Over winter break I received medicine for my anxiety, and let me be honest with you, they only made it worse. I thought that my life would be sunshine and rainbows after receiving this prescription but instead I found myself crying to my mom over the phone on the daily. This song became a lifesaver for me, as I’ve never found a song that described me more perfectly. As someone who’s always unorganized, consistently overthinking my every move, the lyrics “But never have I been a blue calm sea, I have always been a storm” described exactly how I was feeling at this time and pretty much all the time.
- “Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac
Yes, I’m repeating Fleetwood Mac, but who can go wrong with Fleetwood Mac? Landslide is a classic song that perfectly encapsulates the pains and fears of growing up. This song actually holds a special memory of my freshman year, as my friends and I sat in my college dorm listening to music and getting ready to go out for my birthday dinner, when the music took a turn of events and switched from Ke$ha to “Landslide.” We all took that as a moment to sit there singing and swaying along to the crisp voice of Stevie Nicks. It definitely was a moment that made me realize I would be okay, despite recently going through a rough patch. Just like the meaning of “Landslide,” these moments are all a part of changing and finding your independence.
- “Heroes” – David Bowie
I’d like to dedicate this song to all the close friends I’ve made throughout college. To all the people who went from being complete strangers, to acquaintances I sat beside in class, to now being my best friends, they have truly made the year so much better. I don’t think I’ve ever met people who are so alike to me, and I’m so glad I went out and actually did things in college, and forced myself to ask people to hang out. I look back and think of how nervous I felt to ask people to hang out, but now they are some of my best friends.
- “Graceland Too” – Phoebe Bridgers
As I begin to head into finals week, I look back at the whirlwind of emotions I’ve felt this year, the many highs and the many lows. Though I loved freshman year, it definitely wasn’t as picture-perfect as many people may expect it to be. But it’s all a part of becoming independent; you have to sit in the uncomfortable feelings of loneliness to discover who you are. “Graceland Too” perfectly describes this feeling. This song’s lyrics have always brought me a sense of relief because, as Bridgers says, I knew I lived through it to get to this moment.