Life Soundtrack

All my life I have been an optimistic person. Every time the song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” by Bob Marley, comes on the radio, it reminds me of myself. This song describes my personality. In my life I have had some troubles just as everyone does whether it be as small as a passing a chemistry quiz or as big as being in an interracial relationship when my parents are completely against it. But if I worry it will just make these troubles worse. All my life, I have tried to stay optimistic. I feel that if I look at the positive side of things, every thing in my life will be better.

Move in day for freshman students at Clemson University, was one of the best days of my life. As I was driving my car, with my parents following behind me, the song “I Can See Clearly Now,” by Bob Marley came on the radio. As I was listening to the song I realized this was going to be a great day. I always wanted to be on my own and I was never so ready go to college. It was a beautiful day. I knew that I was going to be ok without my parents. I knew what obstacles I might be facing in college, but I was prepared for anything that came my way. Although I was a little nervous before we left Charleston to come to Clemson University, those feelings seemed to disappear once I started driving and this song came on the radio. There was nothing but clear, blue skies ahead of me that day. Nothing could have been better. Every time I hear this song it brings me back to that one day which I never will forget.

Once I arrived at school I met a boy who happened to be an African American. I met him in my biology class. We started talking on the phone and spending time together outside of class. The relationship progressed and we began to become a serious and exclusive couple. He is now my boyfriend. My boyfriend is a huge Akon fan. One day when he played one of Akon’s new songs, “Don’t Matter”; I thought it described our relationship perfectly. Because we are in an interracial relationship, we face several obstacles. American society looks down upon interracial couples. As we walk around campus together people may stare or people may make derogatory comments to us, but we do not care because we are the relationship together. We will fight to get past the negative things that come along with being in an interracial couple. Being in this relationship is not easy, but I have learned to ignore the negative part of the relationship and focus on the positive parts of the relationship. Akon’s song, “Don’t Matter,” reminds me why I am in this relationship. This song keeps me focused on the good rather than the bad.

College is a test to find out who your true friends are. Once I got to Clemson University and got settled in, I realized who was a true friend and who was not. When my boyfriend played the song “Friends,” by Whodini, I listened to the words and it made me wonder how many true friends I actually to have. I came to Clemson University with one of my best friends and also another good friend from high school. We were like the Three Musketeers. We did everything together, but as I started to venture off and live my own life, they stopped talking to me. None of us are on bad terms, but they never call me or hang with me anymore. My very best friend since the sixth grade still calls me all the time. She is a true friend that I will never lose contact with. My boyfriend is my best friend at Clemson University. He is there for me whenever I need someone to talk to unlike my former best friend and good friend that attend Clemson University with me.

When my father was singing “American Soldier,” by Toby Keith, it reminded of September 11, 2001. I remember everything about that day. It is a moment in history that will never be forgotten. I was in 8^th grade in Mrs. Tolley’s chorus class. I found out that something had happened right before I left that class to go to my algebra class. As I walked into algebra class the news was on the television. We had a half day of school that day because of parent teacher conferences. I went home with my best friend and her mom was supposed to take us to the mall. Her mom told us that we could not go to the mall anymore because of what had happened. After this tragic event occurred, the country was filled with American Flags. Everyone was proud to be an American, especially me. I had friends go to war over this event. I wear a “Support our Troops” bracelet everyday to remind me of the soldiers that are fighting for my country. This song came out after this horrible catastrophe occurred. The song “American Soldier” reminds me of the horrific day of September 11, 2001- a day that I will never forget.