Third quarter is nice because the start of spring uplifts the moods of not just the students but also the teachers. In my experience it’s supposed to feel harder with more work, but honestly, by this time I’m usually in the flow of school. 

Every year I’ve had a different experience however, so here is a song for each grade emphasizing what to expect based on my experience. 

Freshman: “Runner”-Alex G

The third quarter is when I think you really fall into your first freshman friend group. I’m not saying it will stay the same and definitely won’t alter through the year, but some of the people I’m closest to I met freshman year. It’s important, in my opinion, to find a group of friends— especially freshman year. At the very least, you should find a group you can eat with every day.

This experience reminds me of this song especially with the lyric, “I like people I can open up to/ Who don’t judge for what I say, but judge me for what I do.” This lyric and the song reminds me of a newer friendship when you can tell you’re gonna become really close.

Sophomore: “Oxford Comma”- Vampire Weekend

I think the worst part of sophomore year was the realization that it would be so much different than freshman year.  I was utterly horrified when finals came around and slipping out of finals and into quarter three was a huge wakeup call. 

This feeling of an educational realization that high school might me hard is reminiscent in the lyric, “Who gives a f*ck about an Oxford comma?/ I’ve seen those English dramas too, they’re cruel/ So if there’s any other way/ To spell the word, it’s fine with me, with me.” The song emphasizes the frustration around the complexity of the English language. I think it adds to the frustration around this time realizing you have to lock in for the rest of high school.

Junior: “20$”-boygenius
Third quarter junior year was peak socializing for me. It seemed like every day I was doing something with my friends. With this, I also had the most stuff to do. SAT’s, AP classes, and Algebra all equated to a stressful but fulfilling experience.

A lyric I think relates to this is, “Mama told me that it don’t run on wishes/ But that I should have fun/ Pushin’ the flowers that come up/ Into the front of a shotgun/ So many hills to die on.” In this lyric I see it as her mother telling her to live her life instead of imagining what she wants to do.

This lyric paired with the fast pace tempo is ongoing in the constant movement of activities and responsibilities that comes with junior year.

Senior: “All My Love”- Noah Kahan

I feel like going through senior year, I now understand why my senior friends last year continuously held the sentiment that their year was moving too fast. Because of this, I’ve been trying to appreciate the present more, knowing that everything will change for me once I leave. The sentiment of appreciating the people in your life is reflected in Noah Kahan’s song.

The chorus stands out to me by reflecting my experience, “‘retrograde’, we’d shake the frame of your car/ Now I know your name but not who you are/ It’s all okay, there ain’t a drop of bad blood/ It’s all my love, you got all my love/ I’m still out here with the pills and the dogs/ If you need me, dear, I’m the same as I was/ It’s all okay, there ain’t a drop of bad blood.” He explains there is no bad blood between them and says he will always be there for the other person emphasizing their bond.

This emphasises for me the feeling that even though I may lose contact with my high school friends or peers, I still will hold them in high regard.

High school has high (see what I did there) and low points. But a theme throughout all my playlists is to find a good group of people. My year was ten times better when I actually liked my friends. 

Also my other snippet of advice would be to actually try in school especially junior and sophomore year even though it’s hard. No matter what, always take care of yourself though and be prepared for whatever life throws at you.