This semester has been one of the hardest ones yet. Even though I had supportive friends and mentors, I still struggled to feel motivated. One thing that consistently helped me and still helps me is finding music, new and old, to listen to. Some albums were definitely more listened to than others, and I can even tell you which songs from them mattered the most to me and why. I find that music helps me cope with a variety of situations and emotions, reminding me that I'm not as alone in life as I sometimes feel.

Here are a few albums that helped me thrive this semester, even when I strongly considered dropping out.

1. "After Laughter" by Paramore

This album technically came out a while ago, but the songs are still pretty relevant to me.

"Hard Times" is that song that I would bop along to because it helped me laugh at my stress rather than be controlled by it. "Rose Colored Boy" helped me come to terms with the fact that I don't have to be neurotypical all day every day and that life isn't always meant to be seen through rose-colored glasses, but also can be seen that way on occasion. It helped me when I wasn't feeling optimistic and it even helped me when I did feel optimistic, as I like to call myself a rose colored-girl. "Fake Happy" is just a mood; it's all about the masks that we put on for other people. "Caught in the Middle" was such a helpful song because it helped me embrace this stage of my life, where I'm just in the middle of it all, trying to figure out where exactly I belong. "Idle Worship" is probably the defining tune of the album, because it made me realize that I didn't have to be perfect with the iconic lyrics: "Hey baby I'm not your superhuman and if that's what you want, I'd hate to let you down." The songs are upbeat, yet real and the album art has an aesthetic I could only hope to successfully emulate someday.

2. Literally any album by Sara Bareilles.

Sara Bareilles is an artist that I've listened to on repeat seemingly since her song Love Song came out. However, I only really got into her music in my junior year of high school when I listened to all of it, even the cover songs and eps. My favorite albums of hers are "Little Voice", which has all of her classics such as "Love Song", "King of Anything", and "Gravity" and "The Blessed Unrest", with the iconic song "Brave" that has quite literally helped me be brave during so many circumstances in my life, from finally speaking my mind or coming out as bisexual. It is a song that I will forever turn all the way up whenever it just happens to come on the radio.

3. Love, Simon Soundtrack

I probably listened to this soundtrack for two weeks straight because it made me feel as though I hadn't stepped out of the theater after watching the movie Love, Simon twice. My favorite songs from this album are "Alfie's Song" by Bleachers, "Rollercoaster" by Bleachers, "Never Fall in Love" by Jack Antonoff and MO, "Love Me by the 1975 (the song that the squad jams to after getting iced coffee), "Wild Heart" by Bleachers, and the iconic "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston.

4. Expectations by Hayley Kiyoko

This album is near and dear to me because of how it represents women loving other women. I think this representation is so needed because it's not really been done before, or at least not done well. Some of my favorite songs from this album are "What I Need" (Feat. Kehlani), "Curious", "Feelings", and "Let It Be." The album really flows together well and I totes recommend just listening to it all the way through.

5. The Hamilton Soundtrack

Love or hate Hamilton, I don't care. I am so here for rapping historical figures. I am a beginner member of the Hamiltrash club but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy the soundtrack. My favorite songs so far are "My Shot," "The Story of Tonight," "The Schuyler Sisters", "The Cabinet Battles", and those dramatic songs sung by King George himself. I've really enjoyed the album and it's given me the strength, ambition, and confidence to make it through this semester.