This is a list of some songs that either gave me inspiration for my work, helped me to express deep emotion and move on from past issues, helped to cheer me up on bad days and let me just have fun, or just kept me calm and down to earth but out of the ground.

1. Jekyll and Hyde ~ This Is The Moment

I just heard a beautiful choral rendition at my sister's honor choir recital. And actually hearing it again made me think of putting this list together. I sang and listened to this one quite a lot senior year, especially in my last semester. And all I could think of every time I heard it was graduation, of moving on and that the greatest moment would be holding that diploma and proving to everyone that I did it. Maybe not all on my own, I had a lot of help. But I still did it.

2. Hamilton ~ The Room Where It Happens

This one has less to do with the lyrics and more with the idea behind them. Early on I was really shy and it took a while for me to totally warm up to people outside of the one person I came into college already knowing well. And we started off with a great, large friend group. However by the time second year came around, everyone had split off into their smaller groups, and while I still knew everyone, I always felt like I was intruding or like I wasn't fully welcome. Like I was just annoying people with my presence. I know I didn't fit into my department very well, but I still wish I could have kept up better relations with some people. Just to be a part of the exciting things going on, to be part of conversations, to be involved.

3. The Association ~ Never My Love

I don't know how many times I've asked Terry why he loves me. And I'm positive he's annoyed every single time it happens. And he still tells me he loves me every day. Terry has really helped me through these four years, from being there to listen to me, to holding me when I cry or even singing me to sleep over facetime (this being his go to when I ask him to sing to me), and I love it.

4. Wonderland ~ Once More I Can See

I was given this song to sing (I believe) during my first semester of voice lessons. At the time it was one of the more fun songs for me to practice because it was a show tune and I love that stuff. Haha. But looking back at it later and listening to it again, it reminded me to stop trying to be more of an adult than I was. To not waste the few years I still had to have fun being a kid, to jump around in the rain, to binge on cartoons, play some video games with friends, and to not care if people are watching and embarrass myself in public just so I could laugh at myself.

5. Steven Universe ~ Here Comes A Thought

I know it might sound silly, but just listen to it some time. It's really pretty. I so a lot of emotional therapy for myself through art and music. This is one that I actually listened to on repeat for a while drawing, and it (along with talking through the issues with someone again) helped me move through a couple of issues I'd been holding onto for a few years. It's one of those that just has a great calming tune, with great lyrics and the ability to make you cry if it hits you at the right time.

6. Heathers ~ Freeze Your Brain

I gotta admit, I had some problems senior year. I got pretty detached from certain people, I let my imagination run rampant to horrible places after listening to the way certain people talked about me. Add that I was so afraid to fail, so afraid I wouldn't be able to get a job of any kind when I got out of college, and so on. Not to mention the abundance of emotion expression art pieces that came from hurt I didn't know how else to express. I did start asking Terry to run out with me to get a slushie for myself and ice cream in his case every now and then because I just needed to chill and it honestly did help. I think really just the act of going out to do something so silly with the person I love most helped more than anything else. Just not being alone. I will NEVER say that I had problems quite as bad as J.D.'s, but compared to years previous, this year has been full of some of the most emotionally and mentally painful times I've been through. And some of it was my own fault.

7. Wicked ~ Defying Gravity

In all honesty, this is just a super inspiring song that I could happily belt in the privacy of my nearly soundproof practice room. I had an amazing opportunity to see this show live freshman year and have loved it ever since. Elphaba has just mouthed off to the wizard and happened to get herself labeled as a wicked witch. I've developed a bad/good habit of being pretty blunt about my opinions. I still have enough common sense to stop myself sometimes (mainly when I don't want to deal with an argument from certain people), but having the chance to make my own decisions and form my own thoughts on things without the influence of family has been so good for me. And yeah, my opinions are pretty different now from what I used to see as the norm. But I'm happy to take a stand for what I believe in.

8. Funny Girl ~ Don't Rain On My Parade

This one I did first hear on Glee, but I later looked up the original sung by Barbra Streisand which is shown above. This was another one of those peppy songs that just got me in a good mood. One that I felt just said, "Take me as I am. If you have a problem with me, that's your problem." I have yet to watch or listen to the whole thing, but I know I'll get to it eventually.