Author: Sydney Braun

“When she was just a girl, she expected the world,”

When I wrote about it finally feeling like spring in Ann Arbor in last week’s blog post, I spoke too soon. It’s back to being in the 20s – windy, cold, and the forecast calls for snow on Friday! A typical March; is it really Ann Arbor without a springtime snowstorm?

“But it flew away from her reach,”

Despite the dreary weather, I have been in great spirits this week. I’ve also been incredibly busy, but I think that is helping me get back into my routine after a few weeks of traveling. I’m feeling productive, energized, and capable of whatever I set my mind to. I also feel like I would benefit from a few more hours in the day… I have a lot to do and many deadlines to hit that are all approaching very quickly. Even though I have quite a few “have-tos” on my calendar, they are all things I am passionate about, which means motivating myself to work toward these goals is a lot more easy and fun. 

“So she ran away in her sleep,”

Today’s song is “Paradise” by Coldplay. A remix of it has been on my playlist this past week: “Paradise (Tiësto Remix).” It never fails to wake me up and get me excited for the day on my walk to work or class. Coldplay is one of my favorite bands, and especially one of my go-to “happy” artists. Even though the weather may not be warm this week, I can still feel spring in the air, and with spring comes the end of the semester. Last week, I bought my cap and gown, and this week I have been planning out graduation activities and adding various ceremonies to my calendar. What an exciting time!

“And dreamed of paradise,”

As a University of Michigan Tour Guide, I’ve caught myself getting a little bit choked up at some points during my tours this week. Knowing that graduation is approaching so quickly has prompted me to reflect on my time here, and saying goodbye is going to be hard, regardless of how excited I may be for my future. For the time being, though, I’m feeling good. I’m happy and feeling accomplished, and I’m confidently going into the rest of the semester with a positive attitude!

“Every time she closed her eyes.”

Listen to Paradise by Coldplay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6ZWlDks0nQ

Listen to Paradise (Tiësto Remix) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHDqh7PcYiE

“What on Earth am I meant to do?”

I have had a very busy past few weeks of travel (including a phenomenal Spring Break vacation with some of my best friends), graduate school touring, school, and work, and I am finally adjusting to my normal routine back in Ann Arbor. All of the traveling and unpredictability has resulted in a spike in my anxiety, but I know that as I adjust to my typical schedule, I will feel better and better.

“In this crowded place there is only you.”

The weather has such a strong impact on the way I feel, and after several rainy days, I found myself craving sunnier ones. Not only has daylight savings time made it stay lighter for later into the evening, but today I was able to enjoy a delightful sunny and 70 degree day in Ann Arbor! I went on a long walk and even had a student organization meeting outside since the weather was so beautiful. It appears that spring has sprung!

“Was gonna leave, now I have to stay; you have taken my breath away.”

This week, I officially accepted an offer from a graduate school program, and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Now, instead of feeling anxious when thinking about my future, I feel hopeful – it’s nice to know where I’ll be living at this time next year! That being said, it still feels bittersweet to know that graduation is coming up in less than two months. However, knowing that I have such great things planned and that I will be attending a graduate program that I am passionate about is absolutely helping me look forward to the future.

“Is the world still spinning around?”

The sunnier weather means I am listening to happier music, and, for me, nothing beats Kylie Minogue’s pop songs when trying to get into the spring and summer mood. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and I’m excited to see what my future holds!

“I don’t feel like coming down.”

Listen to In Your Eyes by Kylie Minogue here: https://youtu.be/OjETibEMbJY?si=Lh-YicKS7e0sOJO8

“Makes you want to feel, makes you want to try,”

This past weekend, I went to see Lisa Frankenstein in theaters with some of my friends. We enjoyed the movie and it made us laugh a lot, but what stood out to me most was its soundtrack: it was full of the 1980s songs that I know and love! Head On by The Jesus and Mary Chain, the song for today’s scribble, was one of them. Something about hearing the genre of music that I adore in a public setting as opposed to only through my own headphones makes me incredibly happy; that’s one reason (of many) that concerts are so special to me. Not only was I able to enjoy a funny movie with a great soundtrack, but I was able to do so with friends, some of whom I don’t see that often, making the experience all the more special!

“Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky.”

The weather in Ann Arbor has been sunny and on the warmer side, which has coincided (or maybe influenced) a trend of happier moods I’ve been experiencing. I’ve been busy with school, student organizations, my internship, and spending time with friends, but it has been a good kind of busy, filled with new memories, hard work, and love. I have a few busy days left before I begin a (hopefully) relaxing spring break, which I’ll be spending on a vacation with my friends. While I do miss my family, I’m excited to have a spring break adventure with some of my best friends for my last spring break as an undergraduate. So far, my last semester at the University of Michigan has been unforgettable, and I hope it continues on its fun and memorable trajectory. 

“I can’t stand up, I can’t cool down,”

This semester has been incredibly gratifying so far: I’ve been accepted into master’s programs, started a new internship and began working on multiple projects, took on a new leadership role in one of my student organizations, and even witnessed our football team win a national championship. The version of me when I was first starting college would have barely believed all that I’ve accomplished in the few years since then. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the semester has in store for me after this well-deserved break! 

“I can’t get my head off the ground.”

Listen to Head On by The Jesus and Mary Chain here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d79UIkiY6ss

“Time cast a spell on you, but you won’t forget me.”

It’s Valentine’s Day, so for my blog today I’ve chosen a love song (though not a positive one) that I haven’t been able to get out of my head recently: “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac. While it doesn’t quite relate to anything I’m experiencing in my personal life at the moment, the passion in the song always makes me want to stop what I’m doing the second it comes on and sing my heart out. Whether I’m on the escalator at Walgreens or in my room at home, I can feel the emotion in Stevie Nicks’s voice as if her feelings were my own.

“I know I could’ve loved you, but you would not let me.”

Even though it’s only mid-February, Spring Break is just around the corner. I can hardly believe that I’m almost done with my senior year of college, and, slowly but surely, I’m starting to see my future plans develop. Things like scheduling graduation photos with my friend group remind me that graduation is a few short months away. While I’m excited for my future, I know I will miss my friends and Ann Arbor dearly. I’ve been so fortunate to have found so much love so far away from home. I came to the University of Michigan not knowing anyone, and I am going to leave with a supportive community of friends and mentors who I plan to treasure for the rest of my life.

“I’ll follow you down ’til the sound of my voice will haunt you.”

Even though “Silver Springs” may be a sad type of love song, my Valentine’s Day is filled with nothing but love and positivity for those who surround me. I’m lucky enough to have friends who surprise me with thoughtful gestures and words throughout the year – Valentine’s Day is just one of the many times we show our love to each other, and, for me, a time to reflect on how happy and grateful I am to be living a life that is bursting with love. 

“Give me just a chance.”

My high school self would be amazed by how far I’ve come and by the community I have established here. As a tour guide, I am constantly reminded of how I’ve grown since senior year of high school and how much I have to be grateful for about my life at the University of Michigan (and my life in general). Ann Arbor is a special place filled with special people and a whole lot of love, and it is a privilege to be a part of it! 

“You’ll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you.”

Listen to Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVE4aOUX2iM

“I turn the music up,”

After a very anxious past few weeks, I have started to find peace within myself again. This peace has coincidentally lined up with a week of unseasonably warm and sunny weather in Ann Arbor. Seeing the sun and not being freezing every time I step outside has been very healing (even though I’m not happy to know that this is climate change at work). The change in my internal attitude and the external weather has prompted me to listen to some of the music that makes me feel happiest.

“I got my records on.”

Coldplay is my go-to happy band, another band that my mom and I have connected through. When listening to their upbeat songs, I can’t help but feel energized and grateful. Walking around campus with this music in my ears and the sun on my face has been fantastic, and to make things even better, this week I got accepted into grad school! 

“From underneath the rubble sing a rebel song.”

No matter how dreary and anxious I may feel, this week proves that those feelings aren’t permanent. The sun does come back out – metaphorically and literally. It’s the moments of stress and anxiety and sadness that allow me to be even more grateful for the happy and love-filled moments that I am fortunate enough to experience. Life goes on, and regardless of how I may feel in a moment, in my experience, life remains a beautiful, exciting thing.

“Don’t want to see another generation drop.”

That being said, though life ebbs and flows, I’m thrilled to feel like I’m starting the journey back to my usual positive self – I feel more at peace that way. I’m looking forward to the nice weather this weekend and spending time outside in Ann Arbor with some of my closest friends. Here’s to more acceptance, growth, and positivity this semester! 

Listen to Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kf_6BWcOOg

“Can’t stop loving,”

Today marks the 30th anniversary of an album that changed my life and provided me with some much-needed feminine strength, energy, and power throughout my late teens and into my present-day early twenties: Tori Amos’s Under the Pink. It was this album that launched me into the phenomenal discography of Tori Amos – an artist who, if you’ve been following my blogs for a while, is clearly one of my favorites. I often see myself in her music, and sometimes her music even helps me process emotions I don’t fully understand prior to hearing one of her songs. 

“Can’t stop what is on its way.”

I’ve had the good fortune of seeing Tori Amos perform live in concert several times. I have made friends through our shared love of her music, and I was even lucky enough to meet her after one of her shows. I’ve been told to never meet my idols. Clearly, whoever said that did not experience meeting Tori Amos. I wrote her a letter thanking her for her music and sharing the impact that it has had on my life and I gave it to one of her team members prior to the concert. When I met Tori after the show and told her my name, she said she had read my letter and thanked me for writing it, even referencing some specific things about myself that I had written in the letter. It was an unforgettable experience: someone whose work I admired so much had not only read my letter, but retained the information it contained! Needless to say, I will be a fan for life.

“And I see it coming,”

When I feel particularly strong emotions, I love that I can often find comfort and relatability in the songs of my favorite artists. This week, I have once again had to practice letting things go, and the song “Bells for Her” is about exactly that. Letting go of things I can’t control isn’t easy for me, and, thanks to this song, I know that I’m not the only one who struggles with this. I “can’t stop what is on its way,” but I can work on accepting that I don’t have control over everything. In this week’s case, everything turned out alright… as it usually does. This is just yet another experienced example I can use, moving forward, to remind myself to relax in the face of uncertainty, because getting worked up will not stop what is on its way.

“And it’s on its way.”

Listen to Bells for Her by Tori Amos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWIvvDjOt-A