There comes a time in everyone's life where everyone starts to experiment. No not in that way, but in the sense of the things that appeal to them and other interests that they chose to define them. Whether it's carried through as a phase or a defining characteristic to who they are, music is a definite contributor to that process. And that's right, I'm talking about the seventh-grade middle school — freshman year in high school transitional period.

Everyone's had their shifting moments with music; shifting from what your parents showcased to you to what's the societal norm of what everyone else is listening to, to what you found on your own. For me, music was a defining characteristic of who I was and currently am. Many say that what you wear shows who you are in terms of how you carry yourself and your personality. Although I slightly agree, I also believe one's own music taste is quite the defining moment of getting to know how someone truly carries themselves. For example, you could be a big bad macho kid who listens to 6ix9ine and hardcore rap around your friends, but secretly listens to sad or melancholy music like Owl City and Sam Smith when you're alone. Or you could be even be considered a "bad bitch" and who listens to Nicki Minaj or Cardi B, but secretly rock out to Paramore and Metallica in the shower.

Everyone has their hidden personalities with music, but for me, I just never really seemed to change up in style, granted I may adapt to more genres here and there but I never really changed my style. And I'm glad for that, personally, my sense of music really built my life in a sense. You see I was what you'd consider an angsty/edgy art kid back in middle school. While my 7th grade best friend was going off being the coolest guy in middle school (even though that charisma transcended into high school), I was just trying my best to fall beneath the cracks and just get by. It wasn't until 8th grade came along and music was evolving, people stopped listening to music like Linkin Park and Fall Out Boy. Artists like Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber, Drake, and Taylor Swift were prominent and shaped my city and the way kids my age behaved.

I was a punk rock kid, transitioning from the reggaeton my latin family would force on me to the hard-hitting head banging of sweet guitar riffs and angsty lyrics I was able to discover like buried treasure. Being a rock kid in 8th grade was still normal but looked down upon growing up, as it wasn't the popular norm and it was kinda hard to find friends who shared those same interests. But once I found my clique, it was done. I made a crazy cast of friends through the power of pop-punk rock music.

From My Chemical Romance (still sad about their break up by the way) to Blink 182, my group of friends and I were deep into the rock scene and even to now keep in touch and bind ourselves through music. As I progressed into high school, my music taste gained the attraction of many people I call my closest friends and consider family. Afterall, it saved me through the rough times that is high school. Shaping my personality of being a really chill guy and very mindful of others and trying my best to be the best that I can be. No rap song or top-40 hit could have ever shaped me into that, as I recall all of my greatest moments and experiences involving a crappy punk rock or indie rock songs thrown into the mix. Rock music's really saved my life through the worst of times I've had and exhilarated the best times I've had too. From long car rides with friends to fun dates I've had with a girlfriend at the time. So thank God for punk rock bands, without them I'd just be some boring ol' kid. So go find what music makes you grove and shapes you. Feel free to let out what you truly groove to!

As from the words of Blink 182's "Kings of the Weekend":

"It's Friday night let's lose our minds in a downward spiral-
Here we go!
'Cause we got no control (no control)
It's Friday nights always save my life from the worst of times we ever had-
Thank God for punk rock bands!
Till Monday morning strikes again,
We are the kings of the weekend~"