Many have tried to capture the bittersweet emotions associated with graduating college in words, but few have managed to succeed. I’m not claiming that I will be able to capture it any more than those before me. I will say that college was one of the most complicated times of my life, both emotionally and academically. This experience has afforded me an emotional spectrum so broad, yet beautiful, that I don’t think I would be the person I am now without it. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

It would be easy for me to make a mixtape of my most listened to songs throughout the last four years, but I don’t think that would be accurate to my character. To me, the most powerful and to-be-treasured emotions are grief, longing and acceptance. We all wish we could go back. We all wish we could have one more moment with that person, or at that place or in that time. But time moves forward, with or without us, and to accept that is one of life’s greatest challenges.

There is a triumph to be held high within that acceptance. Moving on is a form of divinity almost as powerful as the grief of separation. There is a cause for celebration layered within that tearful goodbye, as something worth shedding tears is something that we loved, and will love, for eternity. The love I have for every soul I’ve met during this journey permeates this playlist, and I hope that it moves you as much as it moved me.

To everybody, I will miss you dearly.