Music is my favorite thing in the world. I’m that kid who is always walking around wearing headphones. I wake up to music, fall asleep to music, and spend nearly every waking hour in between listening to music. Coming to college, I did not expect music to be as prevalent as it is. It’s nearly impossible to walk across campus without hearing someone blasting the newest Justin Bieber song out of their dorm window. Music is everywhere and vital to the college experience. Though there are hundreds of other songs I could have included, here are ten songs that describe my experience as a college freshman and a few things I learned along the way.

1. Oath - Cher Lloyd

For me, the most important aspect of my first year of college was making some of the best friends of my life. College gives you a world of freedom you never had in high school, and the people you take advantage of that freedom with deserve to know how much they mean to you. It’s never a wrong time to tell your friends you love them, or to let Cher Lloyd do it for you.

2. College Kids - Relient K

Relient K flawlessly describes both the good and bad of college in this unbelievably relatable track. The beginning of the song talks about how broke college students are, something that I did not foresee before first semester started. You always hear about “broke college kids,” but the reality is a lot different, a lot worse. I’m talking Easy Mac for dinner because you have no other option, or wearing the same pants 4 days in a row because you can’t afford laundry. Luckily, there are job opportunities on campus, friends to help you out, and lots of free stuff. Word of advice to any incoming college students: take advantage of any and all free food! You’ll thank me later. Also, as crappy as college can be, don’t forget how amazing it is.

3. I Love College - Asher Roth

Whether you’re someone who likes to party or not, this song is an anthem when it comes to college life. No matter who you are, as a college student, this song is relatable in one way or another. The lyrics are extremely catchy, and perfectly sum up the college party scene.

4. Work Hard, Play Hard - Wiz Khalifa

In college, it often feels as though you’re drowning in responsibilities. I’ve had moments where I was sitting at my desk studying, and all I could think of was how much I would rather be at the beach. Wiz Khalifa reminded me that it’s great to play hard, but you have to work hard first. Don’t let yourself get too wrapped up in all the fun parts of college. Parties are great and spending all day with your friends is extremely tempting, but your GPA will thank you if you take just a little time each day to hit the books.

5. Midnight Memories - One Direction

Similar to Cher Lloyd, One Direction stresses the importance of having fun with the people you care about. In this song, 1D is primarily singing about a girl, and making memories with her. As important as your friends are, college is an opportunity to find a more-than-friend as well. Whether you’re into the hookup scene, or looking for a relationship, I discovered that the most valuable thing is to have fun with whoever you choose to spend your time with.

6. Campus - Vampire Weekend

If relationships aren’t your thing (and there’s nothing wrong with that!), Vampire Weekend has your back. This song accurately illustrates the day after hooking up with someone: waking up without that person next to you, seeing them across campus and pretending you never want to see them again, and being reminded of that person even when you’re in class. If you’re like me and relationships are more your style, that’s great too, but I’m sure everyone knows at least one person who’s been through exactly what this song is about.

7. Roses - The Chainsmokers

Roses is a great representation of what it feels like to have a crush. College hookup scene aside, it is not at all uncommon to find yourself catching feelings for someone. For me, the student body at my college is over ten times the size of that of my high school. That means there are over 10 times the number of guys. If a relationship is what you’re looking for, there are plenty of options. I learned the hard way that there aren’t many guys looking for a relationship freshman year, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Make sure you don’t spend too much time finding someone to be with because focusing on yourself is far more important. You don’t need a guy to be happy.

8. Do My Thang - Miley Cyrus

In this upbeat track by Queen Miley, we are reminded to do what makes us happy, regardless of what others might think. One of the most vastly different aspects of college in comparison to high school is that, seemingly overnight, you are forced to become a completely independent person. You are in charge of finding your own food, doing your own laundry, and fighting your own battles. For some, this can be a really scary thing, but take this as an opportunity and a fresh start to do whatever makes you happiest. If, like Miley, you love to party, go for it! If you’d rather stay inside and watch movies, awesome! Do what makes you feel good, just make smart choices and stay safe.

9. Who You Are - Jessie J

Anyone going to college or already in college has heard of the freshman fifteen. For me, the freshman fifteen hit me like a truck. I remember going into college feeling confident that it wouldn’t happen to me, and that I’d be able to avoid the weight gain. After one year, I realized that there’s no point denying it. Unless you live at the gym, you’re going to gain weight. Everyone does, and it’s nothing to lose sleep over. Jessie J perfectly depicts how essential it is to love yourself. College is all about learning more about who you are. If my freshman year taught me anything, it’s that the best thing you can do for yourself is to stop caring about the mirror, and just try your hardest to be the best person you can be.

10. Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah) - Andy Grammar

Even on the worst of days, it’s important to remember that it’s simply good to be alive. This upbeat sound of this song never fails to put me in a good mood, and Andy Grammer never disappoints when it comes to catchy lyrics. Whether you’re at a party, chilling in your dorm alone, or hanging out with friends, this song is the perfect reminder to always enjoy life. Yes, that even means during finals week. Enjoy every day because, after all, you aren’t in college forever.