Written by: Hannah Nestor
Life as a student can be a rollercoaster of emotions, from the highs of laughter with friends to the lows of stressing over exams, we are constantly going through different experiences whether they be positive or negative. However, amidst all the chaos, we have something steady and constant that helps alleviate these emotions – music.
Stress Among Students:
Firstly, let us consider the inevitability of stress among students. The weight of academic expectations, social pressures, and personal challenges can often feel overwhelming and hard to cope with most of the time. However, music serves as the ultimate solution for these stresses and a way to calm down, reset and regain the power to overcome the issues that are causing us so much pressure in the first place. Scientific studies have shown that listening to music can lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, proving that there is no better antidote than putting your headphones on and listening to the music that connects with you the most. It can provide you with a much-needed boost as well as a break from the demands of daily life as a college student.
The Power of Music:
Music also acts as a bridge that connects individuals and creates friendship bonds no matter what age you are or what background you come from. Sharing music tastes can be the cornerstone of a friendship and provide common ground for meaningful interactions with people you might not otherwise have spoken to. Isn’t that amazing? This has never been more important, especially when starting college, entering a daunting, new building full of strangers that you can form a friendship with purely based on sharing the same love for a song or an artist. In a place where social connections are so important, music can create that sense of community and belonging among peers.
As well as building relationships with your closest friends, the amazing thing about music is that it helps to build a relationship within yourself. We all deal with our emotions in lots of diverse ways, some people feel more comfortable getting their stresses off their mind with a close friend or family member. Or maybe you are the type of person who struggles with speaking your mind about how you are feeling. No matter how you express these feelings and emotions, music is the essential safe space to express yourself. The best part is – there’s thousands of songs and thousands of genres to pick from with lyrics that can uplift you or relate to exactly how you feel.
Our teenage years are one of the most important periods of time where we grow as individuals and discover who we truly are, and music can play a huge role in this time of self-discovery. Think of your favourite song or album. What makes you so connected to it? It might be the genre you enjoy the most, or it could be the lyrics that make it so important to you. Song lyrics have the power to influence us and portray powerful messages that can change our viewpoints on topics such as social, political, and cultural issues that we face in life.
There are so many ways music can impact our lives as young adults positively, and as we navigate the complexities of life as a student – we should try to embrace its ability to inspire, empower, and enrich our lives in countless ways.
Overall, each has their pros and cons but I do think Unidays offers the best access for a young person wanting these discounts and waiting to feel engaged, however I would definitely recommend the other two for anyone looking to have this amazing perk at their disposal.
