My favorite song on brat is Apple. On the surface, Apple is such a fun song, especially with it's quick paced beat and widely popular dance that is trending right now. However, by analyzing the lyrics a bit more closely and seeing some interviews that Charli has done, I can see a possible deeper meaning behind the song. I love songs with double meaning. I think they are really interesting to think about. Charli has long talked about her relationship with her parents and I think that Apple symbolizes that relationship. The most obvious point is when she say "I think the apple don't fall far from the tree", which is a turn of phrase used to described generation similarities between parent and child. Other lyrics, like "feels like you never understand me so I just wanna drive", are very reminiscent of the same type of story that we see portrayed in the media. Someone strays from the path that their parents laid out for them, and so the parents are confused as to what their child is doing. Then when the child receives questions, they feel judged by their parent, angering them and furthering pushing the two parties apart. Charles' writing of Apple, whether it was meant to have double-meaning or not, was very clever. Even without the meanings, it's just an enjoyable and relatable song.

My favorite concert memory is from Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. I worked so hard to secure those tickets, so I was so excited to see that work pay off. I spent hours in the queue waiting to buy my tickets, and I was lucky enough that my parents let me buy floor tickets. As I watched the clock count down to Taylor’s entrance, I became filled with such excitement and joy. As the “it’s been a long time…..” played, I remember the last time that I had seen Taylor was in 2017! That was almost 6 whole years ago! I had dreamed of this moment since then. As Taylor popped up from underneath the stage, I screamed my face off and began singing the words to “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince”. As soon as I saw Taylor, I began sobbing. This was the moment I felt truly connected to her, to her music, and to the people around me. At that moment, nothing else in the world mattered. It was me, my mom, Taylor and 70,000 other people just enjoying ourselves in Acrisure Stadium. That will always stay frozen in my mind forever, because that was the most joy I had felt in a while. After the loss of my dad, I felt an empty hole in my life. I didn’t even get the chance to tell him about the concert when I bought the tickets, because he died a few days later. That concert was my anchoring point, along with my family, helping me get through such a rough patch in my life. My first concert memory was going to see Taylor Swift at the Red Tour. At that moment I loved Taylor Swift, but I barely knew her music. Going to that concert was very cool for me to witness. it also introduced me to Ed Sheeran. I remember Taylor singing Red and I knew all of the words to it. That was not only the first concert I had gone to, but the first Taylor Swift concert. From then on, I established a tradition with my mom. Every time Taylor Swift came to town, we would go see her together. We have held our tradition for four concerts, and it’s still going strong. We hope to see her again on her next tour, whenever that will be. Both of those day were as magical as could be. Both provided me a sense of fulfillment and allowed me to enjoy myself.

There are so many athletes from Team USA who inspire me everyday. All of them deserve so much praise for even having the courage to participate in the Olympics. It is the biggest stage on earth for sports. My favorite athlete to cheer for on Team USA is Simone Biles. It may seem cliché, but Simone truly is an inspiration. In the Paris Olympics, she was the oldest gymnast there, at 27 years old. She pushed through and put on a truly amazing performance, winning many medals. In 2021, Simone competed in the Tokyo Olympics, which was moved from 2020 due to Covid. She displayed clear signs of distress, known in the gymnastics world as “twisties”. Because of this, she recused herself from the Olympics. In a recent documentary, she said that she felt her brain and body was trapped in jail. After removing herself, she faced both immense praise and criticism. She was facing intense trauma and pain, as the world later found out. Simone testified against Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics doctor, stating that she was one of over 100 female athletes that was sexually abused by him. Even still, Biles faced criticism for her decision to step away from Tokyo. She attributes her “twisties” at the Tokyo Olympics as a response to all of the trauma she face during that time. Simone decided to come back to the Paris Olympics of her own volition, saying that she came back only for herself. She didn’t want to look back and regret not trying. She made a great decision, as she won 3 Gold medals and 1 Silver medal. She also became the most decorated female gymnast. I was cheering for her, because she inspires me. She faced intense mental health issues and despite the criticism, she chose to prioritize herself. I think that’s something that I find myself trying to do a lot more. With people like Simone, someone in the public eye, taking care of themselves in such a public way, it reminds me that I am important too. I matter too. I should take care of myself physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and in every way that counts. After all the different adversities I’ve faced in my life, I’ve found it hard to just think about myself. Instead I’m always worried about others. Simone teaches me to prioritize myself. That’s why I cheer for her. She leads the way for me to prioritize myself.

To face a new supernatural threat, I would form a squad consisting of me, Eleven, Steve and Max. Together this team would be able to stop any supernatural threat. Each person on this team has specific skills and talents that would help us to beat anything coming our way. Eleven's skills are the most obvious. Her abilities make her a very strong pick. That, combined with what she has been through at Hawkins National Laboratory, makes for strong motivation. Eleven has a very strong power and she can use that to help defend us against anything. Steve's skills are a bit more human, but he would be the brawn of the group. He's very strong and as seen in the show, he did make a bat with nails to attack demogorgons. He could also use that to protect us from any physical threats. Max's skill is a bit less defensive and more of a way to give the group some relief. Max dispalys a lot of sarcasm, but she also creates strong connections with her friends. She would be the heart of the group. She also has a connection with Vecna, so if our enemy were part of his army, she might be able to help us gain some insight. My skill is my intelligence and leadership. I would be the brains of the group. I would help to plan out operations on how to take down our enemy, using ideas I came up with and combining others ideas. I was part of a leadership group in high school and learned how to be an effective leader. Together, I think we'd be an unstoppable team. Having brains, brawn, power, and comedic relief would be a great group.

If my year so far had a soundtrack, I would have 3 songs from 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on it. This year, I have been focused on removing negative people from my life. I have found that a lot of people in my life were using me, and I am still finding people who do that. The 3 songs I would pick are Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version), Bad Blood (Taylor’s Version), and Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault). Someone I used to be friends with (we'll call them Anne, but that isn't their real name) burned me pretty badly in my senior year. I was part of a friend group and Anne was part of this group. She was planning a prom party bus for all of us to go to prom and then an afterparty. Anne and some of these other friends went to dinner and a movie together, without inviting me. One of the other friends was listing of things that had happened in our friend group. This friend listed off something she said that I had said, but she twisted my words (intentionally or not), placing a negative spin on what I said. Two days later, I'm on my way to go see a play with my friends, and I received a text from Anne, informing me that I was no longer invited on the bus. I tried to call her, because I had no clue any of this had gone on until about a week later. I wasn't given a chance to explain or understand any fo what had happened. Since then, I haven't really talked to Anne or most of these other friends. I felt betrayed by them. After this, I invited maybe 2 or 3 people from that group to my graduation party. I did not invite Anne, but I did invite someone (we'll call her Sloan, but that's also not her real name) who claimed be my best friend since freshman year. She promised she was coming to my graduation party and that she wouldn't miss it for the world. I showed up to her's and she was an hour late to her own party. But, being she was my "best friend", I waited for her. Anne was even there and I stayed as long as I could stand it. The day of my part comes and Sloan never showed up. She never gave me an explanation either. Bad Blood (Taylor's Version) would play after Anne didn't give me the chance to explain or understand anything that had gone on. I even supported Anne through a very difficult time, where she exposed issues with our theatre community at school. Everyone turned against her, but I didn't. I think that Bad Blood would be appropriate for that. Shake It Off (Taylor's Version) would play after Sloan didn't show up to my party. I already had a feeling that she wasn't truly my friend, but then I truly realized and I just let go. Now That We Don't Talk (Taylor's Version)(From The Vault) would play now. Currently, I feel a lot better after cutting off most of these people from my life. I've kept my actual best friend and some other friends from the school, but no one from that friend group. They seemed happy to sit within their own toxicity. This song embodies exactly what i feel about these people. It's a song of remembering what was but also being appreciative for moving on.

I first became a fan of Sabrina Carpenter after becoming a fan of "Girl Meets World". That used to be my favorite TV show, and I loved to watch it when I could! Maya was my favorite character, and there began my love of Sabrina Carpenter. I hadn’t kept up with her after that, so I barely knew about her music career. In 2022, I finally caught up with her again, when I heard her 5th studio album, "emails i can't send". I quickly fell in love with the album. My favorite song off of it was either "emails i can't send" or "decode". Both of those became relatable for something I later faced with a boy that I liked. When she announced "Espresso" and "Please Please Please", I was elated. Both of those songs are very enjoyable. I also remember watching her performance in "The Hate U Give" and that she played a key role in the show. You know the actor is good when you hate their character. Her career has impacted me in many ways. As a child, her acting comforted me and gave me a companion. Sometimes, as a younger child, I didn't feel that companionship from my peers at school. To be able to watch "Girl Meets World" during that time helped me. Once I got older, I began to have issues with a boy I liked, when I knew he didn't like me back. I could relate a lot of Sabrina's music from "emails i can't send" to that situation. I used her music as a way to help me through my emotions. Watching her in "The Hate U Give" allowed me to better understand issues in American society and grow as a person. I have very much been impacted by by both Sabrina's singing and acting career.

Chappell Roan has risen to international superstardom after years of trying to make it work. She is an inspiration to anyone in the music industry, proving that if you keep working towards it, you can make anything happen! Her music has impacted me because it brings me so much joy. Her more upbeat songs, such as “Femininomenon”, “After Midnight”, and “HOT TO GO!”, provide a playful and fun narrative. The music is a simple melody, yet very catchy. These songs are simpler than some of her others, but they make for a good time. Her vocally more difficult songs, such as “Red Wine Supernova”, “Pink Pony Club”, and “Good Luck, Babe!”, have a deeper meaning and can be seen through that vocal difficulty. These are the songs that you scream in the car because they are so easy to do so. Her slower, more melodic songs, such as “Picture You” and “Kaleidoscope”, are much sadder, but they still make for a great screaming song. These love songs are relatable and understandable. Her music has brought me such joy in the last few months. I truly have been listening to her non-stop, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it! I support Chappell’s career for multiple reasons. The first is that she is the embodiment of hard work. Even when she was dropped by her old label and almost quit the industry, she decided to keep going. She signed with a new label and got Dan Nigro as a producer. She watched as Olivia Rodrigo, a singer with the same producer, rose to fame, leaving her wondering if she was doing something wrong. But still, she kept going. Now she’s known across the world. The second reason is that she represents LGBTQ+ people and with her strong rise into the mainstream media, she is calling more attention to equality for LGBTQ+ people. The third is that she makes me and others happy with her music. Any artist who brings positivity into the world should be supported. Chappell Roan’s rise to fame has been very quick, but she has earned every second of it. I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoy her music.

The lyric that resonates with me the most from Olivia Rodrigo's 'GUTS' is from the song "Teenage Dream". The lyric says, "Got your whole life ahead of you, you're only 19" This lyric resonates very closely with my own teenage experience. I feel that I have such a long journey ahead of me, but I need to map out my next 20 years of life right now, as a senior in high school. I also feel that if I don't plan everything out to the last detail, I will immediately fail in life. I will have to face the judgment of my peers and the world itself. Then, because I don't want to face that judgment, I end up planning my entire life out. If one little detail doesn't go according to plan, I will spend days being upset over it, because, again, I'm worried about the judgment from people. I'm worried they will judge me, because I planned my life and it wasn't enough. I still didn't stick to my plan. The expectation is that I am supposed to make a plan and follow that path for the rest of my life. But how can I make a plan for the rest of my life when my brain doesn't stop developing until I'm 25. While I'm excited for the next chapters of my life, I am also very scared. I think that this song encapsulates the teenage experience very much because society places its expectations upon people very prematurely. Olivia writes about having a bittersweet birthday because her childlike innocence has gone away. She has her whole life ahead of her, which is both an amazing and freeing thing, but also a very scary thing. Teenagers are expected to act like adults but play the role of a child. People expect teenagers to know exactly what they are going to do for the rest of their lives. That is a very strong pressure to place upon a kid. The first time she sings that chorus, her voice even quivers a little bit and you can hear the sorrow in her voice. She understands the gravity of what she's saying. The ending of "Teenage Dream" even draws a parallel to Olivia missing her childlike innocence. There are sounds of her producer, Dan Nigro, and his baby, cooing and making noises. His child, Saiorse, is showing that Olivia appreciates the innocence that she had as a kid and longs for it more. Most teenagers feel this way, wishing to have more innocence and stay a kid longer. When you're a kid, there isn't a lot of pressure put upon you. As soon as you turn 19, the world expects something of you. It expects to see you rise and shine, like a diamond in the rough. People expect to see you doing well and enjoying life. Somehow, you're supposed to balance it all. You're supposed to go to college and get a high-paying job after graduate school. Or, you are supposed to follow your dreams and become famous. Either way, you cannot fail. You aren't allowed to. Society won't allow it.

My two favorite Disney Channel shows are KC Undercover and Shake It Up. The episode, entitled "Mini Me" starts off in the Cooper house. KC is staying home from being sick, but wants to go on a mission. She secretly applies to a mission and sneaks out of the house. She is assigned to a mission in Chicago, which will take a few days. She left a note for her parents, just so they know that she's okay. She hops in the car to drive to Chicago and pulls away. Rocky and Cece are running to the studio to get to Shake It Up Chicago! They run through the studio doors and directly onstage during Gunther's live performance! They jump in, following along with Gunther until they find an exit off the stage. Two hours later, it's their turn! KC is pulling up to an intersection when she gets a call from her boss, Beverly. She tells KC there is a dangerous criminal on the loose who looks exactly like her. KC looks over to the TV store. In the window of the store, she sees her own face, dancing to the beat of a song. KC, after tracking the location of the TV signal, runs down to the studio. She thrusts open the doors and runs in with her laser gun. Rocky and Cece are performing with the full ensemble, doing a spy-themed dance. KC realizes she can't blow her cover trying to catch the criminal. She jumps in with the back ensemble, copying their dance moves and making her way up to Rocky. KC bumps into Tinka on her way towards Rocky. "Hey Rocky!", she says, "Wait a minute, Rocky? Rocky?" She exclaims, looking back and forth between KC and Rocky. KC Waits until the live light turns off for the show, and then she grabs Rocky, taking her to a safe house 3 blocks away. "Who is your contact?" "I don't know what you're talking about!" "What is your mission?" KC yells. Rocky, with a blindfold over her eyes, is scared to death, because she doesn't understand what's going on. KC pulls the blindfold off, and Rocky is amazed by how KC looks almost exactly like her, just older. KC asks, "Why do you look like me? How much surgery did you get?" Rocky just stares at her in awe. "Who-" KC begins to say before the door is busted into. "Hey KC! Looking for me?" KC turns around to see an identical version of herself. "Wait a minute..." KC says, frantically looking back and forth between Rocky and the imposter. They run at each other, while Rocky is still tied in her chair. Rocky is watching them fight, but she doesn't know which one is the real one. She breaks free from her chains and grabs a thrown laser gun from the ground. "Stop" she yells, pointing the laser gun at both of them. They both break apart and turn to her. "Trust me" "No, trust me" "Rocky, I danced with you today, we danced to that spy song together!" Rocky screams, "Just stop!" Out of the corner of her eye, she sees only one of them is wearing a ring. She thinks back, and remembers the ring scratching her. She shoots the other one and tuns out of the safe house, back home to her family. She never spoke fo where she was, knowing she had to protect the spies' identity. But she always knew that spy would protect her when it came down to it. KC went home to DC, and all was okay.

@kayleew_0815

My experience with my learning disability made learning difficult. As a kid, no one could ever gauge my attention for more than 5 seconds. After that, I would go back to what I was doing, or I would zone out and not hear what they were saying. Those were the classic signs of ADHD. Throughout all of elementary and middle school, I simply struggled to pay attention in class. It made classes more challenging. I wasn't able to focus on what my teachers were telling me, especially in some of my core classes, such as math, science, and history. These were the subjects I found to be the most boring and the most difficult. Therefore, my brain deemed them irrelevant to me. I, myself, actually wanted to learn these topics. I always loved being engaged in the classroom, but most days, I couldn't bring myself to. It was even worse at home. I would come home from a long day at school, and homework that was only supposed to take fifteen minutes would become a two-hour process for me. This was either because I couldn't pay attention in class or because my ADHD paralysis just wouldn't let me do it. Even now, in high school, there are moments where I cannot pay attention in class, so I focus on something else. Then I get home and try to do the homework, and I don't know at all how to do it. It's a constant struggle. My motivation for pursuing higher education, while it sounds so cliché, is to prove that people with ADHD can still do well and function in society. It may take a little bit longer for me to add up some numbers, but I'm still equal to everyone else. I want to prove to everyone that I can still become an amazing person and grow to change the world. Most importantly, though, I want to prove it to myself. Growing up with low self-esteem did not help my ADHD, so to be able to show that little girl what she becomes would be amazing. I feel I'm a good candidate for this scholarship because my journey with ADHD, while ongoing, is a success story. When I was younger, I wasn't able to focus at all. It took me longer to complete my assignments. I would become severely upset over the fact that I felt that my peers were better than me. Now, because I have used techniques, applied myself more to my education, and taken advantage of the ISP given to me by my school, I have found that my productivity is up much more. If I'm being honest, I've submitted around 4 scholarship essays to Bold.org within the past 48 hours. I feel the most productive I've ever been, and that continues to grow with me as I've grown up. I believe I'm a strong candidate because I think I've grown up and matured. I've realized that while I do have a disorder, there are ways that I can help myself become better and propel myself toward the future. I'm excited to see what that future may hold.

I have always wanted a Barbie Dream House since I've been old enough to play with Barbies. My idea of a Barbie Dream House has changed over the years, but here's exactly how I imagine it now. Mine would be located in London. London has a nice atmosphere, and the people there seem pretty nice. The sights in London are also amazing, especially Big Ben and the London Eye. But it would also be on the shore of a beach somewhere. On the outside, my Barbie Dream House would have a big slide, kind of like the one in the movie. It would have a balcony overlooking the view, so I could see the sunset before I go to bed. Inside my Dream House, there would be a large Master Suite with a walk-in closet. I would also have an adjoining master bathroom with a large hot tub. There would be two main bedrooms: one is mine, and one would be for Ken. Ken would have a blue-themed room with a small bathroom. I would have a red-themed room. In my Dream House, I would also have an office to do my important Barbie work. The main attraction of my Barbie Dream House would be the indoor pool. The indoor pool room would have a TV for easy access and fun entertainment. There would be a home theater so I could watch my favorite movies in the best definition and quality possible. The place I would spend all my time is the recording studio. I would be writing songs and producing them in my house. This room would have tan, rustic wooden walls and be filled with lots of music equipment. I would hang my first ukulele on the wall, and there would be a shelf for all the awards my music would get. There would be an elevator for me to move between the many levels of my Dream House. The elevator music would be soft piano covers of Taylor Swift. The last feature I would add to my Barbie Dream House would be a secret room for me to relax and hang out. I would have posters of my favorite singers: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Lauren Spencer Smith, Joshua Bassett, Tate McRae, and Sabrina Carpenter. There would be some fairy lights strung on the wall with polaroids of me and my friends. I would have a headset that I could use to listen to my favorite artists and a comfy recliner, so I could fall asleep to the songs.

Disney holds a special place for me because it brings people together, especially in a world that's often tough and full of hardships. Bad things can happen to good folks, making life feel even harder. But that's where Disney World comes in, making things brighter. Back in the summer of 2016, my Nana and PawPaw came to visit from Nashville. I was really into cooking back then, and for my 10th birthday, they came up with a fun idea - a Masterchef Mystery Challenge. They set everything up secretly while I was in my room, hiding the mystery ingredient under a cardboard box. They called me down to the kitchen, and I couldn't wait to see what was in the box. My dad was recording the whole thing with a sneaky grin, but I didn't think much of it. When I finally lifted the box, I found two stuffed animals and a piece of paper with words on it. The stuffed animals were Mickey and Minnie Mouse. As I read the words, I saw the message: "Kaylee, We're Going To Disney World." I was over the moon with happiness. A dream I had as a kid was finally coming true. Time flew, and a couple of days before Thanksgiving break, we were all set to head to Disney World the next day. I was beyond excited to leave school a bit early. I was in a group advisory meeting when my advisor asked me to come with her. She took me to a room where both my parents were waiting. They weren't sitting close, which wasn't surprising since they had split up a while ago. But what my dad said next hit me like a ton of bricks. My Nana had passed away that morning due to a blood clot. Tears started flowing, and our vivacious vacation to Orlando turned into a frowny flight to Nashville. Then came Christmas break. My dad managed to change our plans and cancel some things we'd arranged for Nana. He said that we had all promised to go to Disney World, and it wouldn't be fair to change that. When we finally got there, it felt like a surreal experience. My dad had planned out our time at Disney World in a way that might seem a bit crazy, but it helped us see a whole section of the park in just one day. Even though I can't remember exactly which rides were where I do remember loving Epcot. I tried foods from different countries, which was really cool. This trip helped me forget my sadness, and it played a big part in helping me come to terms with losing Nana. I really love Disney. It's not just about escaping reality or being creative - it's about how Disney made me feel better when I was feeling really lost. Nana was the first close family member I lost, and losing her hit me hard. Out of all my grandparents, Nana and I were the closest. Disney World somehow made me feel close to her when I needed it most. After that trip, I always felt like Nana was looking out for me, like a guardian angel.

The Eras Tour was an enchanting night- one of the most magical of my life. Every moment was perfect. Through this, I not only rediscovered my love for Taylor Swift, but also found solace in her music as I navigated through the grief of losing my dad. This journey, in turn, deepened the bonds I share with one of my friends. Back in the day, I was a big Taylor Swift fan. From the moment I could walk, talk, and sing, I was in love with her music. She swiftly became my favorite artist. I knew every song that graced the radio, and could belt them out by heart, even if I didn't fully comprehend their meaning. I became more dedicated to my education, perhaps a little too dedicated, and lost focus on what brought me joy in my life. As I entered high school, music became essential, accompanying me through work, uplifting my mood, and keeping me sane. I started listening Taylor's music again as soon as she released "Midnights." Her melodies provided much-needed solace after my dad died. I purchased my Eras Tickets less than a week before his departure, and unfortunately, never got the chance to share that excitement with him. Yet, her music has been a constant source of comfort through my grief. While my dad wasn't a Swiftie, he did appreciate her work. He even ensured that a song alert was set for Taylor Swift's music on the radio, letting him to change the channel for me whenever her songs played. Some of his favorite tracks, like "Mean" helped me feel reconnected with him after his passing. When the announcement came for the Eras Tour, I knew I had to secure tickets for myself and my mom. Despite gradually losing interest, I still hadn't missed a Taylor Swift concert since the Red Tour. It had become a cherished tradition between my mom and I. This was an experience I couldn't miss. During my school day, I managed to purchase the tickets and was overcome with joy in my Physics class. Immediately, I knew I needed to catch up on Taylor Swift's newer albums. It had been a while since I had truly listened to her music. I started sifting through her discography, discovering and savoring new songs that resonated with me. This exploration unveiled the fact that I had inadvertently missed out on three masterfully crafted albums: "Reputation," "Lover," and "folklore." I developed a strong affection for tracks like "Getaway Car," "Cruel Summer," "The Man," and "betty." This reborn adoration rekindled my passion for her music. Subsequently, I delved into her re-released works and loved the vault tracks. My anticipation for the release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" grew, and I've since developed an obsession with every song it contains. Attending the Eras Tour and reigniting my admiration for Taylor Swift's artistry also led me to expand upon a friendship. My friend and I now converse daily, with Taylor Swift often at the heart of our discussions. We exchange reels and posts about Easter eggs in her music videos, recommend songs to each other, and our connection has grown immensely over the course of three months. We go out to share meals, explore amusement parks, and spend quality time together. Regardless of the setting, one constant remains: our conversations inevitably circle back to Taylor Swift. Im so grateful for Taylor and her music. She has created an escape for me, and any of her songs brighten up my day. I'm always smiling and singing along when I hear Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift has had many mega hits. Her best-selling album, 1989, has absolutely zero skips because all of the songs are amazing, but choosing a favorite wasn't very difficult to do. My favorite song from Taylor Swift’s album 1989 is track 16, New Romantics, off of the Deluxe Edition. I love it for its easter eggs, instrumentals, and its positive message. Taylor Swift is well-known for her easter eggs. In her song, New Romantics, she makes many easter egg references. Simply looking at the chorus, there are so many references and easter eggs to find. She sings “'Cause baby, I could build a castle/Out of all the bricks they threw at me”. This references multiple songs of Taylor’s past, including Hey Stephen, Love Story, and Ours, all of which speak of throwing or tossing rocks or pebbles. Then, she writes, “And every day is like a battle/But every night with us is like a dream”. The mention of both night and day references back to a line from the song Blank Space, a song off of the same album. The instrumentals on every Taylor Swift song truly deliver, but specifically on this song, the instrumentals are amazing. In this song, there is heavy use of pulsating synthesizers, which is actually a reference to the music of the late 80s, specifically the year 1989, which is the title of the album and the year Swift was born. The song maintains its fresh, modern pop beat with the backing vocals Swift inserted and the percussion instruments she uses, but it is a clear reference to the music of the time Taylor was born, making this a timeless piece in music. Finally, I have learned to appreciate the positive messages hidden in the lyrics of some of Swift’s songs. This song, in particular, is to remind us to live youthfully, no matter what our age may be. We should always be having fun, no matter what anyone says. Taylor reminds us not to take useless criticism to heart and to allow ourselves to live out our wildest dreams in life. We should choose our own happiness over trying to please anyone else. When I listen to this song, I am reminded of feelings of happiness. I am reminded of times in my life when I have been truly happy and enjoyed myself. That’s the feeling this song attempts to evoke from everyone who hears it: a sense of youthfulness and freedom. In conclusion, New Romantics is my favorite song from the album, 1989, simply because it makes me happy, especially when I think about the time and effort that was put into this song. With the amount of easter eggs put in it, referencing back to previous songs, and the instrumentals that reference instruments that were heavily used in music around the time she was born, that’s enough for it to be my favorite song. But the giddy feeling I get when this song begins to play says it all. If I can feel young and free, not restrained by anything, and just feel like a child again for a moment, it’s a good song. This song from my childhood, takes me back to the happy memories I have with my friends and family when I had no cares in the world. That’s why New Romantics is my favorite song from Taylor Swift’s album, 1989.