The world becomes muddled as I rhythmically spin around the dance studio to the beat blasting from the speaker. Lifting my leg high above my head, all I can think about is the moment when I’ll hit my final pose and escape into my favorite playlist.

Once the dance is finally over, I grab my AirPods and immediately open Spotify on my phone. There, lit up on the home screen, is a playlist with a photo of my friends and me summitting Mt. St. Helens titled “Ultimate North West 25.” As soon as “Astrovan” by Mt. Joy starts playing, I’m immediately transported back to the rocky mountain trail, almost able to smell the fir trees and feel the breeze.

At the end of my four-week adventure camp this summer, I asked everyone to write down a few songs that reminded them of our time together. While waiting at the airport, I compiled all their songs into a playlist that I listen to almost every day. Although not every song chosen was something I would normally pick out myself, the collection of music represented the unique individuals I met along my journey. What may seem like an arbitrary playlist to others is a meaningful way for me to recall the deep conversations we had in a circle of camp chairs, the feeling of the crisp mountain air and the alpine lakes shimmering from the sunlight.

Spotify is the top-rated music provider in the App Store, boasting over 713 million users worldwide. To me, however, Spotify is more than just a streaming service; it’s a collection of all the emotions, moments and events I’ve ever experienced. 

On my first fall hike this year, I created a playlist titled “fall 25.” Filled with warm, reflective songs like “Maine” by Noah Kahan and “Vienna” by Billy Joel, the playlist deepened my awareness of my surroundings and helped me feel more present in nature. The cover picture is my favorite side trail off the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, with the sun streaming through the trees as the river runs alongside them. I listen to the playlist when I’m feeling overwhelmed, reminding myself of the beauty of the fall season.

Beyond nature, my playlists enable me to relive memories with my friends over and over again. Despite my rigorous schedule, filled with dance practices and challenging classes, I try to find a few hours each week to spend time with my friends. After a perfect hangout around a bonfire, I created my “How Lucky Are We” playlist, named after a lyric in a popular Zach Bryan song. With the cover picture of my friends and me all hugging each other tightly, this playlist perfectly encapsulates the joy I felt in that moment. It reminds me of the bonds I share with my closest friends, and it has become especially comforting to me during stressful times. 

The Poms dance team has been a significant part of my identity since I was a freshman, and now, as co-captain of the team, it fills most of my time outside of school. This year, I created a “poms” playlist, containing songs from past performances, and I often blast it from the speakers during daily warm-ups. Filled with nostalgia, it always reminds me and the team of our love for this sport, as we can vividly picture ourselves passionately dancing under the bright stadium lights with the whole school cheering us on. 

Although my collection of playlists typically reflect happier moments in my life, I’ve used music to cope with some heavier times as well. During the lows of winter, when tests piled up and the outdoors no longer provided the same comfort, I relied on music to fill the void. My life had become a tiring and repetitive cycle of eat, sleep, school, repeat, leaving little time or energy to pursue the things I loved just months ago. My playlist “cloudy days” filled with songs like “Wash.” by Bon Iver and “Work Song” by Hozier allowed me to sit with my feelings and deal with my lingering emotions when my usual grounding strategies —going outdoors, spending time with friends or hiking — weren’t as easily accessible. 

While it may not resemble the stereotypical diary often given to teenage girls in coming-of-age movies, my playlists are my outlet, displaying the different chapters of my life — whether happy or sad. Opening each playlist is like flipping through the worn pages of my life, with each collection of songs symbolizing a uniquely memorable time or event. In a generation where everyone can carry a soundtrack in their pocket, playlists are more than a collection of songs; they’re a mirror of who I really am.