It started in my sixth grade year. I can remember clear as day hearing and seeing my first Taylor swift song/video “Teardrops On My Guitar.” It was one of those moments when the world stops and it's just you and the giant projector in your home room. I knew that this was going to be someone who affected me Taylor Swift is who ushered me into all the stages of my life.
Middle school is when you had your first girlfriend and boyfriend and when you had your first “love.” For me it was a girl who we shall call “A.’ Now A was a perfect woman. Beautiful blonde hair, blue eyes, shorter than me! A was the perfect woman in all aspects except for the fact that she had no interest in me whatsoever. A was my very first heartbreak. I was that annoying boy who tried everything to get her attention. I bought her presents. I traded lockers to get closer to hers. I tried to date another girl to make her jealous. Alas A still had no interest in me. It was in eighth grade that I had finally plucked up the courage to ask her out. Face to face. Well folks there was a reason that “Picture to Burn” was the number one played song on my MP3.
Now, let me say that high school students are mean! No pun intended. At this point I had moved on (or so I had convinced myself) from A and was dealing with a new and bigger threat than heartbreak: Bullying. I was easily the shortest kid my Freshman year. I was weird. I still liked kid shows and just hanging out with friends. I always stated my opinion and had a smart mouth. It brought down a lot of negative attention. As cliche as it sounds all I wanted to do at the end of my freshman year was fit in. I bought the sneakers that everyone else had. I wore the same clothes as everyone else. I talked like everyone else. I was so petrified of being made fun of that I never realized that everyone else was doing the exact same thing. I think the song “Fifteen” perfectly fit my life. The insecurity that I felt was so real at the time.
By the time graduation rolled around, no one was mean or nasty or angry. We were all just happy that we had made it this far. As I put on my cap and gown and walked to school for the last time I will never forget listening to Taylor's song “Long Live.” It was my anthem to the day that I could never forget.
The downfall began in college. I went into my freshman year and I was still absolutely captivated by Taylor Allison Swift. I was found some great friends who shared my obsession. I was in heaven those first few weeks. Then I came crashing down. I let something happen that had honestly never happened in seven years. I let a Taylor Swift album drop without even listening to it fully. I was too busy. I had three tests and two essays and finals in a week and I just couldn't find the time to pay attention to the current love of my life. Eventually I memorized the CD, but it was more out of obligation than anything else.
This year I got to do something that eight years ago I would have traded my soul for, I went to see Taylor Swift live in concert. I was so excited. I painted a 13 on my hand, made a giant poster (which I left at home thank God!) and put on my Red Tour shirt. I made my way to my seats with a good friend and we jammed out to our favorite artist. The concert was a dream come true. The concert made me feel whole and complete. I had finally done it! I got to see her. However as I left the venue I couldn't help but feeling as if the concert was a farewell.
There will always be a special place in my heart for Taylor Swift. She grew up with me and guided me through some of the most important and crucial parts of my life. I love her, but I am not in love with her. I am not going to stop listening to her music but that passion that I felt at 11 years old, the undying loyalty, has passed. Thank you for some of the best years Taylor!
