Ever since I was young, I had a different taste of music than my friends and family. Everyone around me would always have the radio on, but I never liked what I heard. No one expects it from me as if there is supposed to be a stereotype on music genres, but I do listen to punk rock, pop punk, and hardcore music. A lot of the world knows this as, "screamo."

I prefer the terms punk rock, pop punk, hardcore, etc because when people hear screamo, many of them have a negative depiction of what I listen to. I've even been asked, "Why do you listen to the devils music?" People that don't even know the meaning behind each song have the nerve to call it "devils music." Even when there was one or two lines that screamed people have the wrong idea of it. Here is what I have to say.

Don't judge the screaming until you know the meaning.

When listening to music, I gear towards songs that I can relate to. As someone who has battled depression, a big way of coping was finding music that was easy for me to connect with. Although Justin Bieber's 'Baby' was catchy, it didn't do much for me. I began to find bands that you wouldn't hear on the radio especially because of the words in the song. Many of the songs I found stressed the importance of loving yourself, that you're not alone, that you belong here. All things that I wouldn't hear from the devil.

As my love for this music grew, I began to attend every concert that I could. The atmosphere at each concert was this feeling that I didn't quite feel anywhere else. It was a safe spot for people to truly be who they are, for people not to feel alone, and we were all there for similar reasons. Everyone in the room had a story, and each and every song had a meaning to them. Not only that, but the bands on stage had stressed multiple times how beyond beautiful we all are, how were all on this earth for a reason, that it's okay to ask for help. That our wrists were too beautiful for self-harm. That who you are is enough. Every word that has been preached by these bands are all words that would never be preached by the devil.

Behind each "screamo" song is a story, and there just might be a reason as to why someone enjoys it over the ten replayed songs on the radio each day.

I am thankful for these bands and what they've taught me. I am thankful for each concert that made me feel alive. I am thankful for the love that they preach. I am thankful for this crazy taste of music that I love with all of my heart.

And lastly... Don't judge the screaming until you know the meaning.