T. Swift has had her fair share of songs filled with life messages and meaningful back stories. She has taught us how to move on from a relationship, let the good times roll, and to not sweat the little stuff. These kinds of life lessons are what helped me move on from the roughest semester of my life.  

"Shake It Off"

The title says it all. During an interview, Swift stated that the meaning behind this song is to not let the haters bring you down, and in the college world the haters reign supreme. By haters, I mean exams, homework, an awful amount of credit hours, staying fit, staying focused, the list goes on and on. What I’m saying is, college is a slap in the face. They don’t prepare you for all that it entails. College is getting thrown to the sharks and hoping you can swim back to shore in one piece. Taylor and I are here to tell you, you can. Shake the small stuff away; you have much larger things to worry about than getting a C on an assignment, or sleeping in late for class. Worry about the present, not the past or the future. Work for yourself, a better self, and remember if the haters get you down, shake it off.     

"Everything Has Changed"

Taylor wrote this song, particularly about a relationship, but in this case, I imagine my relationship with college. You come to college with high hopes and dreams and, honestly, it is not all it’s cracked up to be. Unfortunately, Asher Roth gave me high hopes to the road ahead, and as much as I respect his imagination, "I Love College" is not really a college anthem, as much as we all wish it was. College is a lifestyle and it is a bumpy road. Coming here, I knew it was not going to be easy, but what I did not expect was learning it the hard way. Everything in your life has changed, and it will continue to do so until the day you walk across that graduation stage. It is how we learn to accept the change that will help us thrive. While the transition from semester to semester is never easy, the less you dwell on the change, and the more you dwell on the progress you have made, everything that has changed, won’t break you.     

"A Place In This World" 

Reading the lyrics to this song, was an inspiration in itself. Swift wrote this song in the beginning of her career about finding a place in this world for her music. During a rough semester, it’s easy to feel anxious, alone, scared, and nervous for the future, but the key to moving on is realizing there is a reason for everything that happens, and every choice you make, especially the choice to come and conquer college. Confidence is key to finding your place in this world. The world of college is not always an easy place to maneuver around, but as Taylor puts it in her song, if you’re on a mission and you have the will to make it happen, you can do anything. It is about having the faith and confidence in yourself.  

You can do anything. You can grow from change. You can take the small things and brush them away. You can find the confidence, even if it is deep down inside, to completely smash all the barriers you face. College is not easy, but if you know it is worth it, you will make it worth it. You can do it. Taylor believed in me, and we believe in you.