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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter.

On September 8th, I turned 21. Yes, the same day Olivia Rodrigo’s new album came out. My friends and I were really looking forward to this album because we were seniors in high school when Sour was released. It honestly was my entire identity from the day it dropped until I started college. I can tell you exactly where I was and how I felt when I listened to it for the first time. The only artist I resonated with the same way I did her was, of course, Taylor Swift who has been there for me practically my entire life. So, on our way to the thrift store, we plugged in the aux and hit play on Guts. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I think the album is good. I will be listening to a majority of the songs on repeat. Although, the first listen-through was definitely not what I thought it would be. I was expecting to feel like she had written these songs for me. Like she was singing about me, my life, my struggles, and my dreams. But instead, all I felt was old. 

Coming into college, I was 18 years old and turning 19 within the first week of classes. At the time, I didn’t know how strange that was in New York state. Here, the cut-off date for school is December, whereas back home, just one hour away in Pennsylvania, it is September. This may not seem like that much of a difference, but I am more than one year older than most of my friends. This sometimes makes me feel like I am behind. I mean, I am older than some of the seniors here. 

I really have to keep convincing myself that everyone is at different stages of their lives at all different ages. I’ve known people at college who are 16 and people who are 24. I know people I went to high school with who are married, people who just had their second kid, and people who are in prison. 

On her album, Olivia sings about feeling like she will never be able to please everyone and being jealous of the girl who seems like she has it all. Of course, I can relate to these songs. Almost anyone can. Where she loses me is feeling awkward in every social setting. Wanting revenge on an old boyfriend and being embarrassed about her toxic relationship.

I just simply just don’t feel this way anymore. High school Delaney would have simply eaten this album up but for some reason, call it a new era if you want, but it really didn’t resonate with me. This is just another aspect of growing up that I am going to have to learn to live with. I guess you can’t be young forever and there are definitely worse things than not relating to Olivia Rodrigo.  

Delaney Chase is the co-campus correspondent for the St. Bonaventure University Her Campus chapter. She works with the other campus correspondent and various board members to communicate with the rest of the Her Campus community as well as edit articles and lead weekly meetings. Delaney is a junior and is currently studying journalism and political science. She also is a writer for TAP into Greater Olean, an online news platform in the St. Bonaventure area, as well as a captain of the St. Bonaventure Women's Club Basketball team and Vice President of SBU for Equality. She enjoys hearing and sharing experiences with those of similar interests and enjoys being involved in different activities across the SBU campus. She finds this a great way to gain connections with those at her university and in nearby areas. She is enjoys the ability to gain experience and further her knowledge of the communications field. Outside of her time in school, Delaney loves listening to Taylor Swift and will take absolutely any opportunity to bring her up in conversation. She can often be found at the campus Starbucks with her friends ordering a pumpkin spice latte or brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso. She enjoys reading classic novels but also loves watching the trashiest reality TV shows.