Reflecting on high school, most seniors note the drastic changes that occur over the blur of four years. Changing styles isn’t uncommon – whether it be hobbies, clothing, and most typically, music preference. Since music preference is so dependent on major life events, it becomes obvious seniors’ current favorites are likely reflective of their current lives and college endeavors.
Karissa Bonds, senior, makes apparent her transformation from freshman to senior year, especially in terms of what she listened to then in comparison to her music taste now.
“I am very proud of how my music taste has evolved over the years. It’s changed a lot, but all for the better. I would typically listen to hip hop, rap, and R&B, because there’s just no escaping it in my household. But now, my Apply Music playlists are all over the place. I might even throw on a little classical jazz here and there,” Bonds said.
For her, music silences the background noise and amplifies how she feels.
“I listen to music for several hours a day, so it has to fit my mood at the time. I’ll play rap music in the mornings when I’m trying to get amped up to go to class that starts at the crack of dawn. And when mornings are chill, I’ll probably listen to artists like Jhene Aiko, John Toliver, Drake, Jordan Ward or SZA,” Bonds said.
Like Bonds, Cyrus Carson, senior, has also evolved in terms of music preference.
“Since freshman year, I guess I have been exposed to a lot more types of music in choir. I appreciate, sing, and listen to a lot more music other than gospel,” Carson said.
His songs now branch off to a variety of other meanings, especially around the realm of senior year stress.
“The songs that are best for senior year for me are that of gospel and inspirational music – it helps calm me down,” Carson said.
Similarly, Olvia LaFond, senior, also listens to music circulating senior year and college endeavors; however, her music taste differs greatly, and hasn’t changed much since freshman year.
“My music taste has only changed a little – I used to only listen to country and now I’m listening to pop and alternative more. My music taste reflects my life exactly in which it relates to major events, like graduation. The song that I relate to most about going off to college is Good Times Go By Too Fast by Dylan Scott, because it talks about growing up too fast and wishing it slowed down; I feel like it relates to college in the sense that we are growing up and becoming adults and all of those good childhood memories are behind us,” LaFond said.
