This question is so difficult because there is no way to choose a single song. I have listened to various genres of music from classical to showtunes and I feel like I am betraying the many artists and their music that has influenced me. However- I am choosing a fairly new song because it is one the best songs I have heard as a young adult. I am a musical theater nerd hence my choice ‘Wake Up’ from a Netflix original titled Julie and the Phantoms. I fell in love with the song because the lyrics represent the complexities of grief in a way that is not really represented in the media. Though the story of Julie played by Madison Reyes does not necessarily parallel mine, I sense poetry in the lines and sentiment in the song. The message is about Julie trying to heal from her pain and navigating coming to terms with her mother passing away. The whole song is more of an anthem of being diligent and persevering through whatever life throws your way. The line particularly where she belts ‘Get up, Get out, Relight that spark’ really emphasizes this ideology. And ironically hits home. I have lived for the last six years in our cramped automobile, shelters and over friend’s houses. I think even though Julie lost her mother and my family lost our home, the grief was still present and had a similar effect on me. Julie stops playing music even though she loved playing more than anything. I stopped doing art, I stopped drawing even though it was the one thing I loved more than anything. Both Julie’s character and I learn to ‘relight that spark’ and return to the arts. That connection is just so powerful and I felt the energy in the song telling me to not give up and to find my way even when I am lost. The songs I prefer to listen to speak to the human experience and are relatable to all of us despite our differences. Wake Up is a song that envelops my passion for art, music, imagination and dreams. It allows me to maintain my positive attitude but also face my reality. It is definitely a reminder to me that I am not alone in my struggles and pain. The song has now been on replay in my Spotify playlist and has been a comfort whenever I am sad or happy, optimistic or cynical, joyful or distressed. Music has an important role in society and our world as it conveys new perspectives and helps achieve positive change. I hope this song helps others as much as it helps me.

The pandemic made every single task more arduous. Life itself and my situation became more complicated. My small family was already struggling to survive in our small minivan with the last belongings we could hold onto. The little stability I had pre-pandemic was lost. We no longer could make meals in grocery stores using their microwaves or sit in a coffee shop to do homework. Even using the restroom was a perceived threat and often resulted in a call to the cops. When schools shut down, virtual attendance became necessary, but I lacked access to wifi and a charging station, so I regularly missed class. Although I found life more difficult to manage, I would learn once again to find gratitude for what I had. I spent most of my nights completing the work I missed and submitting at ungodly hours. My family would use wifi at fast-food restaurants and use electricity from the outdoor outlets of churches. I would try to balance our days in which we would search eagerly for employment-though often encountering rejection-doing school work. I would find comfort in the little things. I began curating art by making small collections of leaves and flowers I gathered from walks searching for employment. Listening to the small handheld radio, I, a devoted listener to NPR, found comfort in the fact that I am not alone. I have learned to value the power of stories and human connection. Even in the midst of unknown circumstances, I still hold on to hope for each one of us.