Soundwaves and rhythm flow through the ears of society during the shifts of life. Music opens the mind to many choices and emotions, allowing closed-minded individuals to think openly.

High school can present students with various mental health struggles, and a common outlet for their emotions is music.

“I don’t really have a taste in music, and I think that’s why I love it so much because I can listen to thousands of songs in different genres and truly enjoy it,” said Bella Trammell, 11. 

When facing a challenging time, music offers young people the opportunity to put a wall between their struggles and happiness.

“I love music and I think that it has really helped me get through tough times in my life where I couldn’t really talk about what was going on, but I could listen to music to help me,” Trammell said. 

Friendships can expand interests, allowing for an exploration of alternative music that some wouldn’t ordinarily immerse themselves in.

“Hanging out with my friend helped me discover new music, it was significant because it shaped my music taste to what it is today,” said Lesly Lozada, 11.

With stress-related struggles becoming a growing problem in today’s world, the convenience of music reshapes the stressful environment into a supportive setting for many.

“Some students feel less anxious when listening to music and it also helps them concentrate better, such as completing their tasks for a class,” Lozada said.

When Andrea Calzado, 11, opened up to the different varieties of music, it allowed her to better express emotions.

Though personal taste can impact music selection, oftentimes it can be as simple as the listener’s mood.

“I really get in my feelings when listening to music, so I have different playlists depending on what I’m feeling. I also just like to listen to an artist’s discography sometimes,” Trammell said