No matter how you look at it, music is an integral part of the human experience. Music is a billion dollar global industry, one that is only growing with the influx of digital platforms such as Spotify, SoundCloud, and iTunes. People make careers out of making music, connect over shared love for music, spend money on music, go to festivals to listen to music, and spend large chunks of their day simply appreciating music. Most people are aware of the statistic that tells us that humans spend 33 percent of their lives sleeping. But we also dedicate an staggering amount of time to music. A recent study found that the average modern human spends approximately 13 years of their life listening to music.

It’s fascinating to think that music is a medium solely created by the human race. Before humans came along, music just didn’t exist. Yet, a world without music seems almost incomprehensible to us. It’s become so intertwined with the human experience that we can’t imagine living without it.

Although humans are the ultimate creators of music, this phenomenon still finds ways to astound and affect us intensely. Music can cause us to feel essentially any emotion within human ability. Consider this; the right song can liven a party or add dignity to a funeral. I personally find this intricate—and undeniably unique—relationship between humans and music to be endlessly interesting. For example, seniors suffering from age-related afflictions (such as Alzheimer’s) are scientifically proven to experience brain stimulation upon listening to music. There seems to be a significant link between music and memory, something that we regularly experience when we hear a song that “takes us back” to a certain time period or location.

As I’ve grown up, music has played an increasingly larger part in my life. Growing up, music used to be something I used as a distraction when I was bored. I didn’t attempt to explore different genres or cultures, mostly sticking to the most popular contemporary tunes (which is a mistake). However, since I arrived at Georgetown University last fall, I’ve found that music has become more and more important to me. I’ve started paying far closer attention to the world of music, attending dozens of concerts/festivals, and having long conversations with friends about favorite bands. Indeed, music helps personally me get through many things, including homework, tough days, and long car rides. I especially remember feeling comforted by music during my first few weeks of school last year, when I felt a bit overwhelmed by the massive life changes that accompany the transition from high school to college.

However, I also have to mention that the most enjoyable part of listening to music is to experience that special “light” feeling. We’ve all experienced it one time or another, the sensation like you’re on a roller coaster and your stomach is doing flips and somersaults. And the best part is the goosebumps on your skin when the song hits just the right note!