TL;DR 

1. Never Give Up by Sia
2. High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco
3. Just Like Fire by Pink
4. Talk by Coldplay
5. Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants
6.  Santé by Stromae
7. Un-apex by TK from 凛として時雨

I like listening to music when I work. I have music that plays in the background while I am writing, while I am grading, while I am developing lessons, and when I am working on outside projects. Recently, I found an author who regularly posts her playlist for the songs she played while writing her novels. She isn’t the first author I have found who does this, but her curated playlists are more comprehensive than previous authors I have encountered. It reminds me of the quotes I used to see at the front of chapters in the horror novels Stephen King wrote. So, I thought this would be an appropriate topic for this week. Considering my work and the many roles I play at GCC, it is challenging to curate an appropriate soundtrack. 

One of the roles that I play is that of a mentor to several students. Very often, these are students who have come to me at a low point in their student experience and I have played cheerleader and motivational speaker, encouraging them to continue on and seek opportunities to advance. So, the first song on my playlist must be Never Give Up by Sia. 

Another role that I have is of a student. Because I am taking classes and writing a dissertation while balancing the other expectations of my time, I know the challenges many of my students go through. Like them, I have a set of goals I am working toward, and I am working toward overcoming the setbacks as they occur. Therefore, the second song on my playlist must be High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco. 

Another role that I have at GCC is that of a colleague. I spend time on teams and sharing ideas with others to improve the things that I can. This includes participating in grant projects and being a faculty senator. I work at being helpful, supportive, and kind in my interactions. So, the third song on my playlist must be Pink’s Just Like Fire. 

As a teacher, I am doing my best to promote connection and communication in my classes.  I invite the students to spend time talking with each other, sharing insight, sharing ideas, encouraging each other, and building understanding with one another. Along these lines, my fourth song must be Talk by Coldplay. 

Being a part of the community, I have made friends at GCC. Some are still a part of the community, others have moved into new chapters of their lives. Being a friend means being supportive, caring, and staying connected. I want to be a comforting presence, however small. So, the fifth song on my playlist must be Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants. 

There are several small roles that I have chosen to take on. Among these small roles is that of being an advisor for a club that meets on Friday afternoons. I look forward to advising the club and enjoy being a part of the experience. So, the sixth song for my GCC role playlist must be Stromae’s Santé.

Finally, I am a unique individual with my own motivations and my own path. Sometimes, it is important to remember that I need to embrace my own individuality. I don’t often promote my own unique self, but it is a goal I am working towards this year. In this role, I am working on embracing new experiences, trying new things, and exploring new opportunities. In moving forward, there are always things that you will leave behind.  In my case, I am cleaning up the house (read as emptying the storage of unnecessary items). So the last song on my playlist is Un-apex by TK from 凛として時雨.