My past five months away from home have been filled with many firsts: my first day of college, my first time being sick without my mom to look after me, my first college party, my first time experiencing the gloomy Seattle winter, my first time navigating a new life in an entirely new place.
Naturally, while trying my best to sail the unsteady seas that constitute the first year of college, there have been numerous ups and downs. Luckily, however, I’ve discovered that I am not alone in my highs (moments of sheer happiness that I want to remember forever) or my lows (moments that make me feel very small in a world that is very big.)
What has shown me I’m not alone in these moments? I’ll tell you: music.
Whether I’m feeling ready to take on the world or eager to hide from it, music is always there to show me that, in one way or another, someone else has felt something similar. Even if the song is not directly related to what I am experiencing, it is always beautiful to find music I simply connect with – regardless of the reason.
To that end, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite songs that seem to capture the duality of the college experience. I hope you enjoy them, and maybe even find a new song to identify with!
The first category: Looking forward
Let me set the scene for this grouping:
The sun is shining. It’s a new day, full of hope and opportunity. The title sequence or end credits of a coming-of-age movie (your coming-of-age movie) is playing. Arms stretched out wide. Wind blowing through your hair. The tunnel scene from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Looking out the window at your new life. Independence. Making memories. Not just being alive, but living.
- Sedona – Houndmouth
- The View Between Villages – Noah Kahan
- Ribs – Lorde
- Chemtrails Over The Country Club – Lana Del Rey
- Evergreen – Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners
- Future Past – Duran Duran
- Enjoy the Silence – Depeche Mode
- Alright – Supergrass
- Everybody Wants To Rule the World – Tears For Fears
- New Perspective – Noah Kahan
- Penny Lane – The Beatles
- Brazil – Declan McKenna
- Kilby Girl – The Backseat Lovers
the second category: looking back
Note: So much of what we see in the media (TV, movies, social media apps, etc.) frames college as only the first category, but that is simply not realistic. Having moments of feeling lonely, overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain sad is completely normal during such a monumental time of our lives. Remember that you are loved, and never be afraid to reach out to someone if you need help: https://www.washington.edu/counseling/resources/
Nevertheless, allow me to paint a portrait of this grouping:
Missing home. Being afraid to grow up. The music that plays in the car while rain falls down the window. Scrolling through old photos. Missing hometown friends. Nostalgia. Knowing that some things will never be the same (but hey, maybe that’s a good thing.)
- A House In Nebraska – Ethel Cain
- Yosemite – Lana Del Rey
- Scott Street – Phoebe Bridgers
- Matilda – Harry Styles
- You’re On Your Own, Kid – Taylor Swift
- Golden Slumbers – The Beatles
- Rivers and Roads – The Head And The Heart
- Stick Season – Noah Kahan
- Vienna – Billy Joel
- Graceland Too – Phoebe Bridgers
- Amsterdam – Gregory Alan Isakov
- Day After Tomorrow – Phoebe Bridgers
- Come Over – Noah Kahan
No matter how you feel about college – whether it is your first year and you’re still adjusting, your last year and you’re ready to take on the world, or anywhere in between – I hope there is a song here just for you.
And, most importantly, remember that you are not alone, and you are loved.
Happy listening!