Growing up, my friends all knew me as the girl who never got the lyrics right when singing songs at the top of her lungs and the girl who never knew artist or album names. I was just not into music as much as they were and my brain just did not like memorizing names or lyrics. I would still love to blast music in the car and attempt to sing along or dance to music in the shower but other than that I never really listened to music very much.

Once I came to college I saw everyone around me wearing headphones to class and my roommates would always listen to music while studying. No matter where I went people would always have headphones in. The gym, the doctor, waiting for food, eating at the dining halls, and even the library. It seemed as though the music they were listening to was helping them get through the grueling hours at the library or the dreaded walk in below zero-degree weather all the way across campus to their least favorite class.

Finally, I decided to get a Spotify account and actually make my own playlist. I decided to give music more of my attention and I have to say it was a life changer! Until that moment, I never realized the true power that a song can have on your mood or your whole day. Upbeat and positive music can keep my mouth curved high up to the sun all the way to class and calming music can actually make studying a little less painful.

I now understand why music has been around so long and why some cultures are surrounded by the beat of the drum and strum of the guitar. Music can bring two strangers together when their favorite song comes on the bus speakers and they can't help but sing along with one another. It can be so powerful as to bring thousands of people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and ethnicities together at concerts because of their one love... music.

Music can give you the words you can’t seem to find.

I am not going to lie; I am still not very good at lyrics or artist names, but I can say that music has a special place in my heart. Even as I’m writing this article, I’m listening to my "Studying Hard Or Hardly Studying?" playlist on Spotify to give me that extra inspiration to write.

So I’d like to thank all those artists, bands, songwriters and everyone else that works so hard to give us such a beautiful part of life. Thank you for making homework just a little bit easier, for letting us finally shed the tears we were holding inside, for making workouts actually kind of fun, and for letting us laugh and giggle with the wind in our face as we drive down country roads with our friends.