One Huge Hit for My Instructor Role
You know how some people take the scenic route through college? Well, I took the cross-country road trip version. As a first-generation college student, I ended up on the nine-year plan to earn my bachelors degree. I went full-time, dropped out, came back part-time, and eventually turbo-charged my way to the finish line with 12 credit hours in one summer because nothing says “I love suffering” like cramming an entire semester’s worth of work into two months. To fund this grand academic adventure, I typically worked two or three jobs at once and picked up some side-hustle (babysitting, bartending at weddings, etc.) when available. Despite the chaos, I made it! So to all students, the ones who struggle especially, my song is “Don’t Stop Beliving” by Journey.
The Playlist of the Rest of My Day
After surviving the slow-burn sitcom that was my college experience, I now have a real grown-up job. But let’s be honest, work comes with its own theme songs.
🎵 “Another One Bites the Dust” – Queen
Coming back from vacation is never relaxing because the minute I open my inbox, I see a mountain of emails. That first day back? It’s me and the systematic destruction of unread messages. As each email gets answered, I hum this song like a victorious warrior in battle.
🎵 “Misbehavin’” – The Righteous Gemstones
When I need a good laugh, this ridiculous song from The Righteous Gemstones is my go-to. It’s weird, it’s catchy, and it makes me giggle like an unsupervised child. A+ entertainment.
🎵 “Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie
Some days, the to-do list is longer than a Costco receipt, and deadlines are coming at me like an over-caffeinated freight train. That’s when this song kicks in, and I dramatically stare at my workload like I’m in a high-stakes poker game that I am determined to win!
🎵 “Game of Thrones Theme” – Fender Custom Shop Edition
Academia is basically Westeros, but with fewer dragons and luckily no whitewalkers. Like the nine great houses of Westeros, each Maricopa school has its own agenda, every department has its own demands, and navigating it all feels like spending a week in Kings Landing where no one feels truly safe. To keep my balance, my background music is the Game of Thrones theme, where in the end, good triumphed and evil failed. I am especially fond of the version with Brad Paisley because he is hot, and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Scott Ian (Anthrax), and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) because they are all bad ass!
🎵 “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper
My favorite part of my job? Event planning. Every semester, the CTLE hosts a conference, and my main goal is to make sure everyone has a blast. So naturally, my theme song for these events is Cyndi Lauper’s iconic jam because if learning isn’t at least a little fun, what’s the point?
And there you have it friends, my work life in music. Whether it’s battling inboxes, dodging deadlines, or throwing an academic party, there’s a song for every situation.








