There is one thing every college student needs and it isn\u2019t a computer, books or anything from a syllabus. Nobody would be able to get through college without a good playlist to stay motivated and the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) students are no exception. \u00a0<\/p>\n
What songs are\u00a0Miners\u00a0listening to as they take on this\u00a0spring\u00a0semester?\u00a0Just like the wide variety of majors,\u00a0students\u2019\u00a0favorite tracks range\u00a0from classical strings\u00a0to\u00a0energetic rock and even\u00a0empowering\u00a0musical\u00a0theater.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
For junior computer science student, Kevin Ayala, music is not just\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0playing in the background, but also a roadmap he uses to remind himself of what his beliefs\u00a0are\u00a0even\u00a0when there\u2019s bumps on the road.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018RIP\u00a0PETE\u2019\u00a0by\u00a0Nsqk\u00a0is a song that reminds me that my academic journey should be guided by my own values and perspectives. It encourages self-focus\u00a0and supports my mental well-being.\u201d\u00a0Ayala said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If\u00a0students are wondering\u00a0how to\u00a0\u201clock-in\u201d,\u00a0classical music might be the\u00a0answer.\u00a0In a modern world full of distractions, students have found a cheat code to\u00a0concentrate\u00a0that goes back to\u00a0Beethoven or\u00a0Tchaikovsky.\u00a0Regina Zubia,\u00a0freshman\u00a0computer science student, has recently discovered this method and particularly enjoys\u00a0\u201cMarriage de\u00a0Amour\u201d\u00a0by Paul\u00a0Senneville.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLately\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been listening mostly to classical music.\u00a0I find that it\u00a0helps me to learn and to\u00a0retain\u00a0a lot of things that I study,\u201d Zubia said.\u00a0\u201cIt also motivates me, relaxes me, and the song that I chose is called\u00a0\u2018Marriage de Amour.\u2019\u00a0I love listening to that on the piano\u00a0and hopefully one day I learn how to play it myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ayala agrees that classical music has a soothing element\u00a0that helps relieve stress\u00a0during\u00a0difficult\u00a0moments.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2019Menuet\u2019\u00a0[Lin-Manuel Miranda\u2019s version]\u00a0is a\u00a0piece\u00a0that\u00a0helps me regain confidence during moments of anxiety or stress,\u201d\u00a0Ayala said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Music can also help\u00a0transform\u00a0students into who they want to be after graduation, just like a song can help an actor understand their character\u00a0on\u00a0Broadway.\u00a0Doriant\u00a0Zu\u00f1iga,\u00a0junior\u00a0and political science\u00a0major,\u00a0steps into the role of her\u00a0future\u00a0attorney self when she listens to\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Room Where It Happens\u201d\u00a0from\u00a0Hamilton.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI listen to this\u00a0[The Room Where It Happens]\u00a0when I feel nervous or unmotivated to pursue my academic goals.\u00a0Which is a little random, but as a political science major aspiring to be a\u00a0lawyer,\u00a0it reminds me that to make the change I want in the world I\u00a0have to\u00a0be in the room where the change itself takes place,\u201d\u00a0Zu\u00f1iga\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cHowever, to be in that room, I need to be well prepared and\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0where the academic motivation comes in, and l push myself to do whatever goal or assignment I was avoiding.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0like a nice reminder of what I want for my future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A song can also connect students to those who love and support them. Miguel Sosa,\u00a0senior\u00a0mechanical engineering student, finds that\u00a0feeling\u00a0close to\u00a0his family by listening to\u00a0\u201cDream\u00a0On\u201d\u00a0by Aerosmith\u00a0is key to\u00a0staying positive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0always been a classic. My dad\u00a0always\u00a0puts\u00a0it on the radio.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0heard it multiple times. It just makes you feel good,\u201d Sosa said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the end, music is about enjoying life and living it to the fullest, which is why Marley Marquez, a junior biomedical science student\u2019s song of the semester is \u201cCharlotte\u201d by Kittie.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love rock music and I think it\u2019s very fun and cool,\u201d Marquez said.<\/p>\n
Miners, when you\u2019re feeling stressed, take a walk around campus and put some headphones on. Earning a degree is a journey as exciting as any movie and a good soundtrack is essential. <\/p>\n
In the spirit of Abba: \u201cThank you for the music for giving it to me,\u201d Abba sings in \u201cThank You For The Music.\u201d<\/p>\n