Finalist 4

If your life had a theme song, what would it be and why?

You’re On Your Own, Kid

Ever since hearing Taylor Swift’s You’re On Your Own, Kid, it has struck a chord with me—no pun intended. I’ve been a Swiftie since I was 6 and she released her album 1989, which means I have obsessed over every release since, but there was something different about this song for me. I find it extremely difficult to put pen to paper when writing about my feelings, and this song has captured so much of what I wish I could articulate about my experience growing up.

I know that growing up and becoming an adult isn’t supposed to be easy. There are challenges along the way that I’m told are there to strengthen us, prepare us to take on more serious responsibilities, or teach us how to deal with certain situations. Part of what I love about You’re On Your Own, Kid is that it doesn’t shy away from that. In the very first line, Taylor talks about longing for something she’s lost and later goes on to describe waiting ages for someone who “never cared.” That very much mirrors an experience in my early life until I learned to stop waiting and start loving the life I was leading.

The song also describes what it’s like to give your “blood, sweat, and tears” for something that doesn’t work out. For a long time, I thought that if you worked hard enough, you could achieve anything. I still believe that hard work is important, but I’ve also realized that things happen, and at some point, no matter how hard you try, something is not going to go the way you hope it will. I didn’t get into every school I applied to and that’s okay—it’s just part of life. I’m so glad that Taylor acknowledges that reality and doesn’t sugarcoat the feelings that come with it. Instead, the lyrics acknowledge that disappointment will inevitably happen and that it will hurt, a lot.

My favorite part of this song, though, is that it manages to talk about all of these struggles and still keeps a hopeful tone. It ends by reminding me that everything I have been through has helped build my character and that every experience has been valuable. In the bridge of the song, Taylor sings about how “Everything you lose is a step you take.” I love that idea for how it changes my perspective on failure and setbacks. Even when life feels like it’s falling apart, I am still moving forward. I might not have noticed it at the moment, but I know every disappointment has made me a little wiser and a little more prepared for whatever comes next.

The final line of the song, “Yeah, you can face this,” reflects the perfect ending for me and my life. After experiencing the heartbreak and uncertainty of the majority of the song, those four words feel incredibly reassuring, a reminder that I am so much stronger than I think. To me, this line confirms that You’re On Your Own, Kid is about learning to trust yourself despite all of the messiness and unpredictability of life. It has meant that growing up is learning that I’m capable of figuring things out, not that I already have everything figured out.

I love this song for its honesty, its acceptance, its optimism, and yes, for the fact that it was written by Taylor Swift. Mostly, though, I love it for actually making me believe that I can face whatever comes my way next, because I have beaten everything I’ve previously been through.