There is rarely a moment in my day without music.

Whether it is getting ready in the morning, replaying my favorite song in my head during class or listening to a playlist during a long car ride, music has become the rhythm of my life.

It is how I express myself, make sense of my emotions and stay grounded, even when everything else feels uncertain.

I’ve grown up surrounded by sound: family playlists in the car, school performances and late nights spent listening to artists such as Frank Ocean or Phoebe Bridgers. Music created by artists similar to those feels real and honest, capturing emotions I struggle to explain.

Over time, I realized that I did not just love listening to music, I loved living through it.

Learning guitar gave me another way to connect that feeling. There’s something calming about sitting down, strumming a few chords and letting the sound fill the room. Sometimes I’ll learn a song I love, and other times I’ll just play what fits my mood.

Even when not playing guitar, music never really exits my persona. It is always running quietly in the background of my thoughts.

When life gets stressful, I turn to music. It helps me slow down, sort through my emotions and find balance when things feel messy. And when I am happy, it becomes a way to celebrate sharing songs with friends or playing something upbeat on my guitar.

This Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful for what music has given me: creativity, comfort and a way to express who I am. It has taught me that self-expression does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. The small imperfections such as a missed chord, a shaky note or a rough recording can all be aspects in making something feel the most real.

No matter where life takes me, I know music will be a part of it. It is the constant thread through every memory; a reflection of growth, change and emotion. Music reminds me to appreciate where I have been, where I am and where I am going.

Follow Chloe (@chl03sm1th_) and @CHSCampusNews on X.