how many of you listen to music on your car right here today
car right here today
car right here today pretty much everyone nice now how many
pretty much everyone nice now how many
pretty much everyone nice now how many of you chose a specific song album
of you chose a specific song album
of you chose a specific song album playlist or even radio station nice
playlist or even radio station nice
playlist or even radio station nice pretty much everybody again why do I ask
pretty much everybody again why do I ask
pretty much everybody again why do I ask this well as I made my way here today I
this well as I made my way here today I
this well as I made my way here today I got in my car and blurred my pumpup
got in my car and blurred my pumpup
got in my car and blurred my pumpup playlist whenever I go for a drive
playlist whenever I go for a drive
playlist whenever I go for a drive whether it’s across the street or quite
whether it’s across the street or quite
whether it’s across the street or quite a trek I always make sure to plug in my
a trek I always make sure to plug in my
a trek I always make sure to plug in my phone open up my music and find a
phone open up my music and find a
phone open up my music and find a playlist that matches my mood for as
playlist that matches my mood for as
playlist that matches my mood for as long as I can remember music has had
long as I can remember music has had
long as I can remember music has had some sort of influence in my life some
some sort of influence in my life some
some sort of influence in my life some of my earliest memories involve music
of my earliest memories involve music
of my earliest memories involve music and the emotions that came along with it
and the emotions that came along with it
and the emotions that came along with it I remember when I was just a toddler I
I remember when I was just a toddler I
I remember when I was just a toddler I could never get to bed by my bedtime
could never get to bed by my bedtime
could never get to bed by my bedtime maybe it was too much residual energy
maybe it was too much residual energy
maybe it was too much residual energy the fear of the dark despite my constant
the fear of the dark despite my constant
the fear of the dark despite my constant nagging at the Holly be left turned on
nagging at the Holly be left turned on
nagging at the Holly be left turned on or maybe even just the fear of not being
or maybe even just the fear of not being
or maybe even just the fear of not being able to fall asleep but the one thing
able to fall asleep but the one thing
able to fall asleep but the one thing that would finally blow me to sleep was
that would finally blow me to sleep was
that would finally blow me to sleep was music in comes my trusty CD player with
music in comes my trusty CD player with
music in comes my trusty CD player with a bright silver color and sound that
a bright silver color and sound that
a bright silver color and sound that illuminated the room when the lights
illuminated the room when the lights
illuminated the room when the lights were off now in my CD collection there
were off now in my CD collection there
were off now in my CD collection there were the cringe-worthy kids Bob the
were the cringe-worthy kids Bob the
were the cringe-worthy kids Bob the first 15 plus the Christmas edition to
first 15 plus the Christmas edition to
first 15 plus the Christmas edition to be exact but there was also songs like
be exact but there was also songs like
be exact but there was also songs like Madonna’s hung up and the Backstreet
Madonna’s hung up and the Backstreet
Madonna’s hung up and the Backstreet Boys larger than life it was my first
Boys larger than life it was my first
Boys larger than life it was my first exposure to mainstream culture I was
exposure to mainstream culture I was
exposure to mainstream culture I was inspired to seize the day by never
inspired to seize the day by never
inspired to seize the day by never living a dull moment to be larger than
living a dull moment to be larger than
living a dull moment to be larger than life myself with this daily lullaby I
life myself with this daily lullaby I
life myself with this daily lullaby I learned about the many mistakes that
learned about the many mistakes that
learned about the many mistakes that adults make with some going right over
adults make with some going right over
adults make with some going right over my head and now that I think about it
my head and now that I think about it
my head and now that I think about it maybe Madonna wasn’t the best thing for
maybe Madonna wasn’t the best thing for
maybe Madonna wasn’t the best thing for a seven-year-old to listen to but these
a seven-year-old to listen to but these
a seven-year-old to listen to but these songs stuck and even though my fear of
songs stuck and even though my fear of
songs stuck and even though my fear of the dark disappeared the influence music
the dark disappeared the influence music
the dark disappeared the influence music played on my life continued fast-forward
played on my life continued fast-forward
played on my life continued fast-forward to middle school a tumultuous time for
to middle school a tumultuous time for
to middle school a tumultuous time for everyone I however was determined to
everyone I however was determined to
everyone I however was determined to beat the odds and enjoy my middle school
beat the odds and enjoy my middle school
beat the odds and enjoy my middle school years I had proven myself to be an avid
years I had proven myself to be an avid
years I had proven myself to be an avid soon in elementary school and I was on
soon in elementary school and I was on
soon in elementary school and I was on the honors track my elementary school
the honors track my elementary school
the honors track my elementary school friends continued with me to middle
friends continued with me to middle
friends continued with me to middle school and life seemed good
school and life seemed good
school and life seemed good around this time I was introduced to an
around this time I was introduced to an
around this time I was introduced to an artist by the name of ellie goulding she
artist by the name of ellie goulding she
artist by the name of ellie goulding she was not very big at the time only having
was not very big at the time only having
was not very big at the time only having released one album but this Pandora
released one album but this Pandora
released one album but this Pandora suggestion intrigued me her song lights
suggestion intrigued me her song lights
suggestion intrigued me her song lights became my anthem and it reminded me of
became my anthem and it reminded me of
became my anthem and it reminded me of the time when I was afraid of the dark
the time when I was afraid of the dark
the time when I was afraid of the dark and the emotions that I brought with it
and the emotions that I brought with it
and the emotions that I brought with it she sung you show the lights that stop
she sung you show the lights that stop
she sung you show the lights that stop me turn to stone you shine them when I’m
me turn to stone you shine them when I’m
me turn to stone you shine them when I’m alone and so I’ll tell myself that I’ll
alone and so I’ll tell myself that I’ll
alone and so I’ll tell myself that I’ll be strong and dreaming when they’re gone
be strong and dreaming when they’re gone
be strong and dreaming when they’re gone these lines were catchy and were
these lines were catchy and were
these lines were catchy and were associated with me finally being able to
associated with me finally being able to
associated with me finally being able to fall asleep but life sure has a funny
fall asleep but life sure has a funny
fall asleep but life sure has a funny way of sneaking up on you and it sure
way of sneaking up on you and it sure
way of sneaking up on you and it sure scared me in seventh grade seventh grade
scared me in seventh grade seventh grade
scared me in seventh grade seventh grade was the year that I became self-aware
was the year that I became self-aware
was the year that I became self-aware that I started looking inside myself at
that I started looking inside myself at
that I started looking inside myself at who I was and what I stood for rather
who I was and what I stood for rather
who I was and what I stood for rather than letting the outside simply
than letting the outside simply
than letting the outside simply influence me growing up I typically
influence me growing up I typically
influence me growing up I typically didn’t have a care in the world as I was
didn’t have a care in the world as I was
didn’t have a care in the world as I was usually sheltered by the many conflicts
usually sheltered by the many conflicts
usually sheltered by the many conflicts of real life but that bubble was
of real life but that bubble was
of real life but that bubble was shattered when I realized that I was gay
shattered when I realized that I was gay
shattered when I realized that I was gay confusion swirled in my mind I was the
confusion swirled in my mind I was the
confusion swirled in my mind I was the middle of Confirmation at my church
middle of Confirmation at my church
middle of Confirmation at my church whose teachings I emphatically followed
whose teachings I emphatically followed
whose teachings I emphatically followed and I still enjoy many of its principles
and I still enjoy many of its principles
and I still enjoy many of its principles today but this seemed so wrong such an
today but this seemed so wrong such an
today but this seemed so wrong such an outline what I felt like was an
outline what I felt like was an
outline what I felt like was an otherwise fantastic life the groove that
otherwise fantastic life the groove that
otherwise fantastic life the groove that I’ve been following for such a long time
I’ve been following for such a long time
I’ve been following for such a long time suddenly had a very sour note so even
suddenly had a very sour note so even
suddenly had a very sour note so even though I knew my sexuality deep down it
though I knew my sexuality deep down it
though I knew my sexuality deep down it became an embarrassing secret at this
became an embarrassing secret at this
became an embarrassing secret at this point I had continued my tradition of
point I had continued my tradition of
point I had continued my tradition of listening to music when I would fall
listening to music when I would fall
listening to music when I would fall asleep and many nights were defined by
asleep and many nights were defined by
asleep and many nights were defined by Kelly Clarkson’s dark side I asked God
Kelly Clarkson’s dark side I asked God
Kelly Clarkson’s dark side I asked God with her lyrics
with her lyrics
with her lyrics everybody’s got a dark side do you love
everybody’s got a dark side do you love
everybody’s got a dark side do you love me can you love mine life was not over
me can you love mine life was not over
me can you love mine life was not over though despite what many adolescents
though despite what many adolescents
though despite what many adolescents like myself at the time would like us to
like myself at the time would like us to
like myself at the time would like us to believe my ellie goulding fangirling had
believe my ellie goulding fangirling had
believe my ellie goulding fangirling had increasingly been in viewed as an
increasingly been in viewed as an
increasingly been in viewed as an obsession but with a new album Halcyon I
obsession but with a new album Halcyon I
obsession but with a new album Halcyon I learned that it’s gonna be better as I
learned that it’s gonna be better as I
learned that it’s gonna be better as I work toward a brighter future that might
work toward a brighter future that might
work toward a brighter future that might somehow have a better ring to it I had
somehow have a better ring to it I had
somehow have a better ring to it I had accepted my sexuality but I wasn’t quite
accepted my sexuality but I wasn’t quite
accepted my sexuality but I wasn’t quite ready to share with others yet I never
ready to share with others yet I never
ready to share with others yet I never get it through life not quite sure who I
get it through life not quite sure who I
get it through life not quite sure who I was or who I wanted to be
was or who I wanted to be
was or who I wanted to be I pretended to have the typical teen
I pretended to have the typical teen
I pretended to have the typical teen crushes and tried to fit in rather than
crushes and tried to fit in rather than
crushes and tried to fit in rather than stand out but I felt like the song kool
stand out but I felt like the song kool
stand out but I felt like the song kool Kidz was written for me with the words
Kidz was written for me with the words
Kidz was written for me with the words yeah they’re living the good life can’t
yeah they’re living the good life can’t
yeah they’re living the good life can’t see what he is going through I wish that
see what he is going through I wish that
see what he is going through I wish that I could be like the cool kids
I could be like the cool kids
I could be like the cool kids but that doesn’t quite work I felt that
but that doesn’t quite work I felt that
but that doesn’t quite work I felt that there had to be more to life than just
there had to be more to life than just
there had to be more to life than just wading through it trying to avoid the
wading through it trying to avoid the
wading through it trying to avoid the unpleasant situations or experiences
unpleasant situations or experiences
unpleasant situations or experiences that I was put in that’s what I stumbled
that I was put in that’s what I stumbled
that I was put in that’s what I stumbled across Betty who whose song made me
across Betty who whose song made me
across Betty who whose song made me realize whose song just like me made me
realize whose song just like me made me
realize whose song just like me made me realize something she’s saying so if you
realize something she’s saying so if you
realize something she’s saying so if you think you’re falling apart if you’ve got
think you’re falling apart if you’ve got
think you’re falling apart if you’ve got a broken heart then you’re just like me
a broken heart then you’re just like me
a broken heart then you’re just like me suddenly I realized that the problems
suddenly I realized that the problems
suddenly I realized that the problems and emotions that I’ve been swallowing
and emotions that I’ve been swallowing
and emotions that I’ve been swallowing in order to function in daily life
in order to function in daily life
in order to function in daily life cannot be continued to be held down and
cannot be continued to be held down and
cannot be continued to be held down and they don’t need to be because we all
they don’t need to be because we all
they don’t need to be because we all have challenges presented to us these
have challenges presented to us these
have challenges presented to us these challenges may seem unique they may make
challenges may seem unique they may make
challenges may seem unique they may make you feel isolated and it may make you
you feel isolated and it may make you
you feel isolated and it may make you feel like the one person out of
feel like the one person out of
feel like the one person out of seven-and-a-half billion people on the
seven-and-a-half billion people on the
seven-and-a-half billion people on the face of the earth with that challenge
face of the earth with that challenge
face of the earth with that challenge but one of the most defining qualities
but one of the most defining qualities
but one of the most defining qualities of being human I’ve come to realize is
of being human I’ve come to realize is
of being human I’ve come to realize is that we can all share experiences and
that we can all share experiences and
that we can all share experiences and empathize with one another quickly
empathize with one another quickly
empathize with one another quickly things start to click into place the
things start to click into place the
things start to click into place the reason why music carries such power is
reason why music carries such power is
reason why music carries such power is not because of its market value or its
not because of its market value or its
not because of its market value or its popularity but because of how can bring
popularity but because of how can bring
popularity but because of how can bring people together whether from across the
people together whether from across the
people together whether from across the room to across the world many of the are
room to across the world many of the are
room to across the world many of the are the songs that I mentioned tonight if
the songs that I mentioned tonight if
the songs that I mentioned tonight if you look at the artists inspiration
you look at the artists inspiration
you look at the artists inspiration behind them have absolutely nothing to
behind them have absolutely nothing to
behind them have absolutely nothing to do with the problems that I had at the
do with the problems that I had at the
do with the problems that I had at the times they held the most value to me but
times they held the most value to me but
times they held the most value to me but that’s what’s so critical how many of
that’s what’s so critical how many of
that’s what’s so critical how many of you can think of at least one song that
you can think of at least one song that
you can think of at least one song that holds a special meaning to you
and that’s pretty much everybody for me
and that’s pretty much everybody for me music started by comforting me with
music started by comforting me with
music started by comforting me with words that I most likely didn’t even
words that I most likely didn’t even
words that I most likely didn’t even understand and connecting me to the
understand and connecting me to the
understand and connecting me to the outside world but then those words
outside world but then those words
outside world but then those words gained meaning and most importantly they
gained meaning and most importantly they
gained meaning and most importantly they gained meaning to me just like they do
gained meaning to me just like they do
gained meaning to me just like they do for each and every one of you here today
for each and every one of you here today
for each and every one of you here today now as I look forward to the next
now as I look forward to the next
now as I look forward to the next chapter of my life in college I’m
chapter of my life in college I’m
chapter of my life in college I’m extremely thankful for this realization
extremely thankful for this realization
extremely thankful for this realization it has led me to challenge myself in
it has led me to challenge myself in
it has led me to challenge myself in ways that I never would have dreamed of
ways that I never would have dreamed of
ways that I never would have dreamed of in the past in high school I joined
in the past in high school I joined
in the past in high school I joined student government and I even started
student government and I even started
student government and I even started acting last year now whenever I feel sad
acting last year now whenever I feel sad
acting last year now whenever I feel sad lost frustrated or stuck I play the song
lost frustrated or stuck I play the song
lost frustrated or stuck I play the song paper light by luring in my head where
paper light by luring in my head where
paper light by luring in my head where she declares we are born to be higher
she declares we are born to be higher
she declares we are born to be higher higher than gender orientation higher
higher than gender orientation higher
higher than gender orientation higher than the stereotypes that permeate our
than the stereotypes that permeate our
than the stereotypes that permeate our society and higher than the little
society and higher than the little
society and higher than the little problems that we often concern ourselves
problems that we often concern ourselves
problems that we often concern ourselves so much with the soundtrack of my life
so much with the soundtrack of my life
so much with the soundtrack of my life plays a much sweeter tune now and of
plays a much sweeter tune now and of
plays a much sweeter tune now and of course it contains many of my favorites
course it contains many of my favorites
course it contains many of my favorites including Ellie and so I would like to
including Ellie and so I would like to
including Ellie and so I would like to ask for you all that you listen to your
ask for you all that you listen to your
ask for you all that you listen to your soundtrack and see is it the sound that
soundtrack and see is it the sound that
soundtrack and see is it the sound that you want to hear if so sharing it with
you want to hear if so sharing it with
you want to hear if so sharing it with others and enjoy it if not remember that
others and enjoy it if not remember that
others and enjoy it if not remember that you are not alone and that there was
you are not alone and that there was
you are not alone and that there was always another track coming up next and
always another track coming up next and
always another track coming up next and who knows maybe your soundtrack will be
who knows maybe your soundtrack will be
who knows maybe your soundtrack will be larger than life we are all connected by
larger than life we are all connected by
larger than life we are all connected by music thank you
”
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