Anybody who knows me will say I am "The girl obsessed with Taylor Swift."
I have been a "swiftie" (Taylor Swift fan) since 2011 when I first heard Love Story in my English class. I remember that day well. Since that October 13, everything has changed. (Okay yes I just used a Taylor Swift song there) Before I started listening to Taylor, I was in middle school not having many friends. In 2011, I started high school. After I heard Love Story, I went home and listened to every Taylor Swift song out there, on an album as well as unreleased.
Six years later, I know every word to Taylor Swift's songs and use lyrics constantly while talking to my friends. Some friends catch it, others still are on the other side of that door. Within these six years, Taylor has helped me become confident in myself.
Here are 22 things about Taylor that have made her one of idols:
1. For years, everyone in the media has been badmouthing her for dating so many different men and writing songs about them after the break up, but Taylor hasn't gotten upset over it. Instead of trying to change the media's perception of her, she's singing songs about how 'crazy' she is. One of the many things Taylor Swift has taught us is that it doesn't matter what others think of you. Don't change yourself--just be able to poke fun at yourself.
2. Taylor does what makes her happy, because she knows that pleasing others won't help her feel better about herself.
3. She's written lyrics showing that yes, people can be mean. However, you need to learn how to "Shake it Off" because all they are is "Mean".
4. Just like Taylor, you shouldn't be afraid to talk about things that mean a lot to you, even if it may not be the most interesting topic.If you care about it, talk about it. She shows this by recording her two cats Meredith and Olivia (named from her favorite characters Grey's Anatomy and Law and Order respectively) even when they are just resting. Some people might not find cats interesting, but to Taylor she cares about her cats, even when they hurt her. They're part of her family
5. Taylor was brave enough to follow her dreams, and it got her a record deal. She was brave enough to open at the American Music Awards, and it got her amazing reviews. The next time that you want to do something but are too terrified to follow through, think of how successful Taylor has become by taking chances.
6. After all the Kardashian/West drama last year, Taylor showed not to let anyone undermine your success in her 2016 Album of the Year Speech.
7. She shows that she truly cares for her swifties. She's done "Swiftmas", visited fans in the hospital and sang for them, secret sessions where fans met her and heard 1989 before it was released, helped a fan with student debt, had fans get vip passes given to them by her team based off concert outfits or showing how happy they were there, and so much more. Like Taylor herself said, "Fans are my favorite thing in the world. I've never been the type of artist who has that line drawn between their friends and their fans. The line's always been really blurred for me"
8. She wrote a song for her friend who she learned was bulimic (Tied Together with a smile)
9. She worked with a family and wrote a song for a young boy who passed away from cancer (Ronan)
10. She has brought many fans together over the years. That's how I even became close with some of my closest friends. Had I not found their Instagram account, I may not have even met them and become as close as we have in the past couple years.
11. At the 2014 VMAs and right before pretending to jump off the "1989" sign, she joked, "I don't care if it's VMAs, I'm not jumping off." Even if it could've been an embarrassing moment, she laughed it off.
12. She surrounds herself with good people and if they ever hurt her, she cut ties with them. She refuses to let anybody hurt her.
13. Okay for this one, I couldn't resist. 13! Her lucky number (And it became mine too since I listened to her music for the first time on October 13)
14. Not only does she write awesome songs about people being mean, but she also has publicly spoken out about bullying numerous times. She even used Instagram to respond to a fan's question about bullying.
15. She writes her own music.
16. Her music has changed, but she hasn't.
17. She has a silly side too.
18. She never lets fame cause her to change her image. She always shows she's down to earth.
19. She has a great sense of humor.
20. She laughs after getting scared repeatedly on The Ellen Degeneres Show.
21. She cares about her family. She even wrote The Best Day and made a music video in honor of her mother.
22. She keeps her friends close. She has made music videos involving her celebrity friends (Bad Blood). She even made one which had her best friend since high school Abigail in it (Fifteen).
Taylor has shown that no matter what people think, ignore the haters. Just be yourself.
"You're lucky enough to be different, never change."
That's why I feel she's the best role model.
