It was 1 A.M. I could not sleep. Again. In this situation, I would typically find a boring podcast to listen to, but this night I came across an album on Spotify that I had believed to be overrated. It was the soundtrack to the Broadway musical Hamilton. This musical was the talk of all my friends, but that was over a year ago. I ignored them, wondering how I could possibly be interested in a musical, especially one that many had not seen in person, that centered around Alexander Hamilton of all people. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try, hoping that it would lull me to sleep with its sheer boringness.

I did not sleep. I stayed awake all night, enraptured by the incredible tale of Alexander Hamilton and the catchy beat that told his story. I hung on every word. This was not a boring story of an old dead guy who just happened to have his face all over our money, he was incredible! This was also not an old-fashioned tale of colonial America, but rather a modern tale of a writer, an emerging nation, a girl in love, a proud son, a corrupt government, terrible heartbreaks, and the evils of human nature. These are themes and archetypes we see in the world today! Yes, it is told through hip-hop which makes it "modern" but the characters are also reminiscent of people we see every day, even ourselves. Props to Lin-Manuel Miranda for reshaping our dry textbooks into real-life people.

Listening to the music inspired me as a writer, something I didn't think would happen through a musical soundtrack. Hamilton used his skills as a writer to get him out of poverty, start the revolution, and build a new government after the Revolutionary War. He wrote "like he was running out of time" as the lyrics go. Hamilton wrote constantly and it changed people's minds and the fate of America. He injected his ideas into every conversation, which was a little offputting for many people but was nevertheless effective. I am not an outgoing person, nor a government official, but I think that despite that, I have the potential to make a difference in the world through my writing. I also want to write like I'm "running out of time" because I am. Our lives are short, what will we leave behind? How will people remember us?

On another note, not only is this story good, but the music is phenomenal. The songs get stuck in your head and they left me rapping to myself the rest of the week. I was rapping about Alexander Hamilton in the shower. This is something I never thought I would find myself doing. Ever.

In addition, Hamilton turned me into a history nerd overnight, literally. I had always found history sort of boring, but after listening to Hamilton's story told in this way, I wanted to know more. I started researching the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution. It wasn't a flat page of a textbook anymore, it was real and alive and relatable.

I will recommend this musical again and again. This article does not even scratch the surface of my love for this musical. Despite not seeing the show in person, the music alone is catchy, the story is intriguing and heartbreaking, and the message is inspiring. Please listen to the music. Even if you hate rap. Even if you hate history. Even if you hate Aaron Burr for... nevermind. Talk less. Smile more. Just listen.