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Why I’m Not Embarrassed To Love Taylor Swift

You may call her music a guilty pleasure, but I don't want to feel guilty anymore.

April Poole

Oct 04, 2016

Middlebury College

Why I’m Not Embarrassed To Love Taylor Swift

The Golden Grenade

I listen to Taylor Swift, read young adult books and watch Dance Moms.

Some might call these guilty pleasures, but I don’t want to feel guilty about them.

My favorite books are young adult books. I write about young adult books on the Internet and I recommend them to people at the bookstore where I work. I will fiercely defend the value of these books, and argue ardently that adults don’t need to hide the cover of the young adult books when they’re reading them in public. I’m tired of apologizing for the fact that my favorite books are written for and about teenagers when people ask about my favorites, tired of evading the question when people ask what I’m reading. I’m tired of watching Dance Moms on demand when I’m home alone, tired of making a joke of my love of Taylor Swift and One Direction.

If I were cool, I would love these things ironically. But I’m not sorry that my love for them is sincere. Trying to enjoy these things in secret feeds into the idea that I should feel guilty for loving them. People joke that Real Housewives or Grey’s Anatomy are their guilty pleasures but I don’t see why we should feel guilty for things that make us happy. These things bring me real joy. They make me smile. I discovered that Taylor Swift’s 1989 can bring me back from the brink of panic attacks. Young adult books can distract me from the stress and sadness of day to day life.

Societally we view these “guilty pleasures” as lesser than other media. We should feel guilty for enjoying them because they are more base than reading Hemingway or listening to indie pop. I shouldhave moved on to adult books by now people tell me. I should read the classics. Have you tried Jane Austen? Yes, I have. And I love her works. But I still find understanding in young adult novels, in the lyrics of a lovesick Taylor Swift. I listen to Tegan and Sara and Mayday Parade in the same playlists as One Direction and Carly Rae Jepson. These entities can coexist because they bring me joy and understanding in different ways. Humans are emotionally complex, and different things can appeal to different emotional experiences. For me, these “guilty pleasures” give me understanding and simple happiness, and I’m not embarrassed of that. The time has come for me to stop apologizing for things that I simply enjoy. I don’t feel guilty and you shouldn’t either.

Now I have to go, the new episode of Dance Moms is on.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Why I’m Not Embarrassed To Love Taylor Swift

You may call her music a guilty pleasure, but I don't want to feel guilty anymore.

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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