College is a symphony of chaos —late-night study sessions humming with the crackle of caffeine, the rising swell of exam stress and the ever-present pulse of deadlines ticking away. For many students, survival isn’t just about grades; it’s about clinging to something steady when life threatens to spiral out of control. And for countless students —whether they study music or not — that unwavering force is music.
Music isn’t just sound; it’s “a sanctuary.” It’s the melody that tethers students to their memories, the rhythm that keeps their feet moving when exhaustion tugs at their heels. It’s the lyrics that whisper understanding when words fail. For these students, music is not just an art —it’s an anchor, a pulse, a lighthouse in the storm.
The anthem of college life
If Kent State had an anthem, what would it sound like?
Phil Swift, a first-year jazz studies major, envisions a piece that encapsulates both struggle and solace. “It would have these chaotic, overlapping melodies —like college itself,” he said. “But there would also be warm folk-style undertones to reflect the comfort of Kent’s small-town charm.”
Beyond imagining an anthem, Swift sees music as an immediate escape. “Improvisation is my safe space,” he said. “Sometimes my thoughts are too tangled to put into words, but when I play, everything just makes sense. It’s like having a conversation with myself in a language only I fully understand.”
Music as therapy
For Grace Breen, a first-year political science major pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international affairs, music is more than entertainment —it’s a lifeline. If this chapter of her life had a theme song, it would be “Carry on Wayward Son.” “It’s about resilience,” she said. “That’s what college feels like —one long, relentless push forward.”
If music could act as a therapist, Breen knows exactly what she would ask to help her with: grief. “I’d ask it to sit with me on the days I still miss my best friend, even though it’s been almost two years since the accident,” she said. “Music doesn’t tell you to move on. It lets you feel.”
Lyrics that speak when words fail
A freshman theatre production major, Maddie Martin, found solace in the harmonies of Noah Kahan after losing her best friend. The song that carried her through? “Orange Juice.”
“I’ve always loved folk music, and Noah Kahan basically saved me in high school,” Martin said. “But after my best friend passed, I needed a song that told me it was okay to not be okay.”
Her devotion to his music runs so deep that, when she couldn’t get concert tickets, she stood outside the venue in Cleveland just to hear the music drift into the night air. “If being a fan means feeling safe and seen in someone’s art, then Noah Kahan’s music is home for me.”
From anxiety to acceptance
Sierra Bell, a first-year psychology major, arrived at college wrapped in uncertainty. She then found “The Show” by Niall Horan.
“It felt like a reminder to slow down, take a breath, and embrace the unpredictability of life,” she said. “It reassured me that I wasn’t alone in feeling lost.”
Bell turns to songwriting when emotions feel tangled. “There are moments where I can’t even pinpoint what I’m feeling, but the second I pick up my guitar, it all starts making sense.”
Bell has faced her share of hardships —struggles that shaped both her identity and her art. Through it all, she poured her experiences into an album of her own, “Right Here.”
“It’s a collection of songs about everything I’ve lived through,” Bell said “All painful, all healing, but it’s also all real. This album is my way of telling myself —and anyone who listens —that we’re not alone in what we go through.”
Playlists as a mirror to the mind
Freshman art education major, Tonille Decipeda, sees music as an evolving reflection of her inner world. “I have a playlist of all-female artists I listen to when I need a reminder that I am strong,” she said. “Or, when I need to reconnect with my beliefs, I turn to worship music.”
Her playlists shift with her emotions. “When I’m in love with life, I play bright, cheerful tones,” she continued.“When I need to process, I slow it down – music lets me feel deeply, without judgment.”
Music as a community builder
For Emmit Tarr, a sophmore music performance major, music is the glue that holds his friendships together. “Almost all of the people I’ve met in college, I’ve met through music,” he said. “Whether it’s playing in a KSU ensemble or going to a local punk show, music has shaped my entire college experience.”
For Tarr, music is both an escape and a source of confrontation. “When I have a lot to deal with, my instinct is to grab my guitar and start writing. If I’m sad, I go acoustic, like “Panucci’s Pizza” or “Mom Jeans,” he continued. “If I’m feeling intense emotions, I lean into heavy metal or hardcore. My band, “The Junks”, isn’t just a creative outlet —it’s my way of making sense of the world.”
The science behind the sound
Beyond personal stories, research backs up the role of music in mental health. The Kent State Music Therapy Program has found that music can lower stress hormones, ease anxiety and enhance cognitive function.
With mental health struggles on the rise among college students, music remains a powerful tool for self-expression, healing and resilience. Whether it’s blasting a playlist to shake off stress, writing lyrics to process pain or finding a sense of belonging through shared musical experiences, students have shown that sometimes survival isn’t just about pushing through —it’s about finding the right song to carry you forward.
