For me and many other freshmen, the idea of going into college is absolutely terrifying. For the first time in our lives, we are going to be truly independent. To say it's stressful is like describing the ocean as wet: correct, but not describing the full picture. Many of us barely know how college actually works or what's involved. It is a huge task to overcome, and some of us are either excited and can't wait to be on campus, or ripping our hair out from stress at the thought of living in a new place. I'm positive that if all of us keep our heads on straight, spend more hours studying than going out with friends, and maybe picking up a yoga class to relieve stress, we'll make it through our first year with some hair still on our heads.

Scenes in movies often have music playing behind them, and our first big outing shouldn't be any different. This is where our film truly begins. There's a piece of music that absolutely fits: Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony in E Minor.

It's starts off with two clarinets in unison playing the main theme of the symphony somberly and apprehensively. This is how many college students feel after leaving their homes and families for the first time. The clarinets are supported by low strings, playing dark chords to reinforce the theme. The theme is repeated for two minutes before moving on to the second, more lively, theme.

The next theme of the symphony is my personal favorite. It seems to musically skip around to different instruments in the orchestra while the strings provide support that is march-like in structure. The strings move back and forth reminiscent of someone walking through life and pushing through challenges and obstacles. The two themes of the first movement seem to almost fight for dominance in the latter half of the first movement. When the scared, apprehensive theme shows up, the other rises to challenge it, until it sounds completely triumphant and wins out in the end.

The second movement of the symphony is Tchaikovsky showing off one of his talents: being one of the most emtotional of the Romantic composers. Tchaikovsky was a deeply emotional man who preferred to express his feelings via music. He was a gay man who kept his secret except from some of his closest friends. In many of his pieces

The second movement is sentimental, romantic, and slow. It opens with strings playing warm chords that sound like how dark-chocolate treats taste. A solo French horn glides out of the strings to hug the listener. A playful oboe responds to the horn. A clarinet calls from the orchestra and the three melt together into a beautiful trio of love.

College is a time of many first experiences for those of us who didn't get to experience them in high school. First loves, first best friends, and our first chosen family. I'd like to think this piece and it's solos can represent both romantic and platonic love. I hear the horn solo to be more sweet and lovingly romantic, while the oboe solo sounds to me more how a sweet friendship sounds.

The piece builds and swells in the developmental section until the horn and oboe's solos are playing by the strings and mixed together. It is perfectly balanced, like one balances social life and romantic life.

The third movement is often a palate cleanser in longer symphonies. The first two movements and the finale are often the most mentally involved to listen to. That's not to say that the third movement of Tchaikovsky's 5th is something small or insignificant. The third movement has taken up a life of its own popularity outside the Fifth Symphony. While preparing the listener for the finale, he takes them on a waltz full of adventure, mystery, and intrigue.

College is an adventure from start to finish. It's an awkward dance that you get better at in time. You get better at classes by feeling the rhythm and learning the flow of how everything fits together and goes. The third movement makes me think of a student rushing, planning, and stressing over their finals, until finally the fourth movement replies to the questions asked by the third.

The fourth movement is all about triumph and succeeding. It opens up with the first theme of the symphony, but instead of being played anxiously and somberly by clarinets, it's played in a major key triumphantly by the strings.

It reminds me of Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance," or as we Americans call it, "The Graduation Song." The only difference is that Tchaikovsky's piece actually has thought and substance put into it and not problematic at all by modern standards of society, but I digress. That's an article for another day.

The main theme is paraded around the orchestra only interrupted by triumphant trumpet fanfares. The flutes and strings sing sweetly in the ears of the listener, making them feel accomplished. The movement ends with all the themes previously played being heard and then a sustained resolution, putting a period on this novel of a symphony.

Once we pass our finals (fingers crossed), we'll feel like we just won a marathon. We'll want to come back next year to take on the next challenge.

I hope everyone who reads this decides to try to experience Tchaikovsky's Fifth. It's not my favorite of his symphonies. His Sixth and final symphony still reigns champion over all the rest, in my humble opinion. The Fifth is still a great work and I still recommend the Fifth because it will be the perfect soundtrack to our freshman year in college. I hope to see everyone succeed and have a great year!