Certain songs bring back certain emotions and memories. For me, listening to music has defined my life, and each one of these songs bring me back to a specific year of high school. 

Freshman Year: “Running Up That Hill” – Kate Bush

I’ve hated horror and sci-fi shows my entire life until I was forced to watch Stranger Things, where this song popularized. 

Freshman year felt like beginning a scary show, the anticipation of something bad happening. I didn’t want to be the shy kid from middle school with three friends that would be too embarrassed to take off my mask or baggy hoodie. In a strange way, I can’t remember anything from freshman year because it went just as I had hoped. This was the first (and last) time I got straight As, joined Freshman Class Council and made many new friends. I felt like I kept running up the hill with nothing holding me back. 

Sophomore Year: “Family Ties” – Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar

Anytime I was walking with airpods, you already knew it was this song blasting nonstop on blast. 

With nonstop music came nonstop ups and downs. I consider friends my family, and this year I broke and built many family ties. Growing older, I had new priorities and began to outgrow my friends. The beat switches in this song are a reflection of how I was able to break out of my comfort zone and become part of a new friend group after sticking with the same people for nine years. Trusting myself to branch out gave me the Baby Keem to my Kendrick Lamar. 

Junior Year: “IDGAF” – Drake and Yeat

This song came out October 2023, when I decided to take these lyrics a little too much to heart. As much as I wish I could undo the majority of junior year, I know that the perspectives were necessary for me to evolve. You only live once, but I learned that it’s better living my life knowing that I’m a good person to those around me. 

Senior Year: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears 

Since 7th grade, this song has been a reminder of the high school life I envisioned for myself after watching all the classic teen movies. Each year I’ve transformed into a completely new person, and I’m proud to achieve my 12-year-old self’s vision at the end of this journey.  

“Nothing lasts forever” is the lyric that sums up my feelings graduating. The same faces I’ve been seeing for four, some for six and some for 12 will no longer be familiar to me as I move across the country.  I’ll watch the lives of people who I used to see everyday or occasionally chat with in class or wave hi to in the halls, through pictures. 

I’ve had many acquaintances, friends and people who dislike me. Yet, I’m grateful for each one of them, regardless of what our experience was, because it shaped me into who I am today. When I pick up my diploma and walk away from this campus for the last time, the memories, low points, highlights and people will last with me forever.