Welcome to college. This is a time in your life when you will go through so much. You will probably experience staying up for 24 hours, or more, to study for finals. You will probably experience a one-night stand (or two). You will probably experience a break-up (or two)... I could keep going. The list of everything you will probably experience while you are in college goes on and on. I hope you are a music fan, because I have put together a small playlist of songs that I think can perfectly sum up college and college life.
Click on the song title to hear the song!
1. One Day More, from Les Miserables
"One day more! Another day, another destiny. This never-ending road to Calvary; These men who seem to know my crime will surely come a second time. One day more!"
This is the song of the people, especially when it is the day before the end of finals. One more day until you are finished with the term, until you are finished with college, until you are finished with finals - whatever that one more day may be, this is the song that sums up pushing yourself towards your victory.
2. Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves
"Make lots of noise. Kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into. When the straight and narrow gets a little too straight roll up a joint, or don't. Just follow your arrow wherever it points."
People will try to direct you in several different directions. It is up to you to choose what you want to do with your life. You can change your major six times, and the only thing that matters is that you are studying what you want to study - not what someone else wants you to study. You do you.
"Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer. Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here."
This line describes college a little too well. There is always a college party going on, and it's most likely going to have some type of alcohol - or even many types of alcohol. As for the money part? Welcome to college, where after your first term, you are going to be in debt from student loans.
"Give 'em the old razzle dazzle. Razzle Dazzle 'em. Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it, and the reaction will be passionate. Give 'em the old hocus pocus. Bead and feather 'em. How can they see with sequins in their eyes?"
Welcome to college, where you will start the long process of never-ending interviews. You will have job interviews, and internship interviews. You will even have to go out and interview people for class projects. We all know that we have a certain persona we put on for interviews - let's call it your "interview face." Your interview face can be considered to be an act of sorts. You go in to an interview, and you glamorize your resume and your work history in hopes of getting the position.
5. Sleeping with a Friend by Neon Trees
"All my friends, stay up past midnight looking for the thing to fill the void. I don’t go out much like I used to. Something ’bout the strangers and the noise. And why leave when I got you, baby? It’s a risk but babe, I need the thrill. I never said you’d be easy, but if it was all up to me I’d be no trouble, hey, we’re in trouble."
At least once, you will end up hooking up with a friend - whether it was intentional or not (it probably wasn't). There's a slight chance that you will talk to that friend again, after getting frisky with them, but most likely, you won't talk to them again. It'll turn into a very awkward situation - for both of you. Word to the wise: Don't get frisky with your friends.
6. Crash and Burn by Thomas Rhett
"I know you could probably tell me right where I went wrong. Some guys can't have all the luck if others don't sing sad songs. Do you hear that? I'm right back at the sound of lonely calling. Do you hear that? It's where I'm at. It's the sound of teardrops falling down, down. A slamming door and a lesson learned, I let another lover crash and burn."
You will probably go through a breakup (or two) while you are in college. That being said, this song was the first that came to my mind when I thought about breakups. But don't worry, there is someone out there for you - it may just take some time to find them.
"Hold on, to me as we go. As we roll down this unfamiliar road, and although this wave is stringing us along, just know you're not alone, 'cause I'm going to make this place your home. Settle down, it'll all be clear. Don't pay no mind to the demons. They fill you with fear. The trouble it might drag you down. If you get lost, you can always be found."
College is definitely an unfamiliar road, especially if you are a freshman. A university campus can be a very scary place, at least, for the first little bit. Become friends with someone, and both of you will be able to lean on each other. Granted, this is a little bit easier to do if you live in a campus dormitory, than if you don't, but even if you don't live on campus, there will always be someone you can go to to talk to.
"I've had a little bit too much, much. All of the people start to rush, start to rush by. How does he twist the dance? Can't find a drink, oh man. Where are my keys? I lost my phone, phone . . . Just dance, gonna be okay."
Here it is - the night out song. This is the "I went to a party and got drunk, and shenanigans happened" song. For most of us, this song may remind us of a time when we went to a party, and had too much before we realized we had had too much. Welcome to college, where no matter what party you go to, there will probably be alcohol.
9. Everyday is a Winding Road by Sheryl Crow
"Jump in, let's go. Lay back, enjoy the show. Everybody gets high, everybody gets low. These are the days when anything goes. Everyday is a winding road. I get a little bit closer. Everyday is a faded sign. I get a little bit closer to feeling fine."
When you're in college, you never really know what is going to happen. It's a winding road. College is a time to just go and do and experience lots of different things. You're in college - you're allowed to get crazy sometimes.
"Help me if you can, I'm feeling down. And I do appreciate you being 'round. Help me get my feet back on the ground. Won't you please, please help me."
With work on top of classes on top of homework, papers, and projects on top of trying to maintain a social life, life can seem to be holding you down, especially around finals. You will get stressed out, and you'll need someone to help get you back up, especially if you feel like you cannot keep going on.
11. Note to Self by Ben Rector
"Note to self: clean the living room. Do the things you don't want to do. Maybe fold that week old pile of clothes. Note to self: get some exercise. Feels bad and you have to try, but as far as I can tell that's how life goes. And note to self: don't let yourself worry quite as much It'll end up fine enough."
Sometimes, you might have days where you don't want to do anything. You might have days where all you want to do is hide from the world in your blanket fort, with your coloring books and crayons, and watch cartoons. While it is totally normal to feel that way, you may not get days off that often, and you should do things that need to be done, like doing your laundry, or going to the gym, or maybe even grocery shopping. No one likes to do it, especially when you have a day off, but unfortunately, stuff like that needs to be done.
12. What Comes Next? from Hamilton
"What comes next? You’ve been freed. Do you know how hard it is to lead? You’re on your own. Awesome. Wow. Do you have a clue what happens now?"
Moving out, and going to college is a scary time. Move-in day is the day that many of us get to start experiencing adult life for the first time. Quickly, you will figure out how hard it is to be an adult, and how difficult it can be to figure out what to do. Being an adult is hard, and that is definitely something that everyone can agree on.
Take these songs and go forth with them. This is my gift to you - a small playlist of songs that I feel describe college and college life.
Do you have any songs that you think describe college and college life? Feel free to comment below, and let me know what they are!
