By: Brielle Batchelor
Last September in the fall semester of 2023, I was walking across the street on Broad and Norris in North Philadelphia, I had the right of way, so I proceeded to walk, and I was struck by a car.
It’s difficult to describe exactly how I was feeling, it’s a feeling you wouldn’t even begin to understand unless it’s happened to you. I had so many emotions going through my mind, should I be angry? Should I cry? Who can I call? Those are all of the questions I had been asking myself for the whole month before the incident. As someone who had just transferred into Temple University that same semester, a traumatic event like getting hit by a car made me question my choice to come to Temple.
My journey as a transfer student at Temple has been an adventure, to say the least. When I say adventure, I don’t necessarily mean that in a positive or negative way. I mean that in a way of saying there were a lot of highs and lows throughout my first year at Temple. Everything that I was afraid of happening before coming to Temple, happened. My biggest fears were not being able to establish a friend group, feeling behind the rest of my peers who had been at Temple since their freshman year, and missing home… which is natural for anyone entering a new environment.
I am from Poughkeepsie, New York which is located about an hour and a half north of New York City. Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County overall are suburban, so I did not grow up in a densely populated area like Philadelphia.
Growing up I would travel to New York City occasionally, however; I was never quite used to the city life because I had never stayed there for long periods. Moving to Philadelphia was an adjustment for me, especially being that Temple is in the North Philadelphia area. North Philadelphia is known for its crime rates and also its lack of cleanliness.
The one thing that was constant for me throughout my transfer journey was music. Listening to music is extremely therapeutic to me and it tends to calm my nerves. I was looking for something to help me cope with the trauma of getting hit by a car and the pressures of being in a new environment around new people. That “something” was a hip hop/ R & B artist that most people know, Drake. I can relate to Drake because of his unique journey of moving from one area to another for more opportunities. Drake is originally from Toronto, Canada, and moved to the United States for better opportunities. Listening to Drake’s music has helped me cope with the struggles of adjusting to a new environment, finding a sense of belonging, and regaining confidence.
I started my college career at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, New York where I received an associate’s degree in communications and media arts. My original goal after high school was to go straight to a four-year school however that did not go as planned because of the coronavirus. My time at community college, solidified my love for media.
Transitioning into Temple
I did my research on the top media colleges in the country and Temple came up in the search. Temple was the best fit for me because it’s not too far from home and it has a great school for media. When I first got to Temple, I missed home a lot and more specifically I missed my family and friends. I felt alone for most of my first semester because I was not making friends as quickly as I thought I would. Being a transfer student automatically puts you in the category of being a first-year student as well. Most of the preliminary events I went to for Temple or Klein were for freshmen students along with transfers. Therefore, most students that I connected with initially were freshmen.
I tried my best to connect with Juniors or seniors because when I transferred in, I was a junior. The main challenge I faced with upperclassmen I met was that they had already formed their friendships and social circles 2-3 years earlier during their freshman year at Temple. Most people who have established friend groups or close friends tend to feel hesitant to make new friends because they either don’t have time, or they simply just don’t see a purpose. Because I attended community college in a small media market, there were no opportunities for internships.
Once I got to Temple, my main goal was to get an internship. During the fall semester of 2023, as I spent time with my peers who had been at the university since freshman year, I felt an overwhelming feeling of being behind. They had two years at Temple before I got here to get involved with organizations on campus and network in the media industry in Philadelphia. Although it was overwhelming to feel behind everyone around me, my only option was to work hard to get involved in everything that I could. While working hard and attending networking events, career fairs, and student organization meetings, I had to make sure I was prioritizing my mental health as well. So, I continued to turn to music as my “therapy”.
The Science Behind Why Listening to Music is Beneficial
Music has been used since ancient times in tribal groups to the present day for various reasons like at social gatherings, concerts, in the car and so much more. Many of us listen to music but it’s important to understand the science behind why it’s so beneficial for our mental health. An article from Neuro Launch states, “The impact of music on mental health has been so well-documented that it has given rise to an entire field of therapy. Music therapy has shown promising results in treating various mental health disorders, from depression and anxiety to PTSD and schizophrenia.”(Neuro Launch editorial team, 2024) Not only is listening to music a fun pastime but it’s also scientifically proven to treat mental health disorders like anxiety and depression that are debilitating for many individuals. While music is often known to improve our psychological state of mind, it also determines how we feel physiologically depending on the type of music. Your heart rate will increase when listening to upbeat music with faster tempos. The opposite goes for listening to slow-tempo music, your heart rate will slow. “Listening to calming music has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. This stress-busting effect isn’t just a short-term fix either; regular exposure to relaxing music can lead to long-term reductions in stress levels and improved overall well-being.” (Neuro Launch editorial team, 2024). I go to the gym and tend to complete my workouts with more enthusiasm when I listen to music. Listening to music while working out has been proven to boost physical performance. “Upbeat, motivational music has been shown to increase endurance, reduce perceived effort, and improve overall athletic performance.” (Neuro Launch editorial team, 2024).
Why I Admire Drake and Songs You Should Consider Listening To
One of the key reasons why I enjoy listening to Drake’s music is because he expresses his struggles throughout his music. When artists express their life journeys and struggles it makes it easy to relate to them. While growing up in Toronto, Canada Drake faced a lot of bullying as he attended a predominantly white institution where he was the only black Jew.
He was also struggling at home once his father got arrested while trying to cross the border and when his mom got sick and had trouble taking care of the family. Drakes’ parents unfortunately got a divorce when he was young and that also affected his mental health. Despite the limitations he faced while growing up, he decided to persevere and move to the United States for better opportunities overall and to pursue his music career.
One of Drake’s most notorious songs “Started From the Bottom” is a prime example of how he expresses his struggles through music. Started From the Bottom came out in 2013 which means when I started listening to it, I was between 10 and 13 years old. As humans, when we are younger or in our childhood years, we naturally perceive things differently. Listening to the song as a kid I was honestly just listening to it because it was trending, and it was a nice song to play at gatherings or just to have fun and dance. As I grow older and go through more serious adulting problems like the college journey, I take a closer look at the true meaning of songs. The song is a reminder that you must continue to work hard even when it seems the odds are against you because it will ultimately lead you to your final goal. Throughout the song Drake repetitively says, “Started from the bottom now we here” to let the listener know that you can come from humble beginnings and still make it to the “top”. Once I began listening to that song after my incident, it helped me to understand that although I was going through a low point in my life, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost for my future.
Throughout my journey as a transfer student, one song by Drake that I played a lot is called “Feel No Ways”. “The title is a clear reference to the slang term (thought to hail from the West Indies), “feel no way,” which according to Urban Dictionary, means “It is okay what you decide; don’t feel pressure to do it one way or another.” (Atkinson, 2016). The song tells the story of Drake’s ex-girlfriend and the ultimate end of their relationship. He expresses how the relationship was not working and how he’s trying to move on despite the pain. Although my story is not related to a relationship with a person ending, transferring from one environment (home) to another (school) was like a breakup in a way. I had to leave behind my old life and things that were comfortable at home, for a new life at school where there would be a multitude of opportunities. In a way, I was going through a “breakup” with home, and my healing journey or trying to move on was my transfer student journey.
Like going through a breakup, I had to move on from the pain I felt from leaving home and continue to persevere. One line in the song that I resonate with is when he says, “I had to let go of us to show myself what I could do”. Listening to that line reassures me that I made the right decision when I chose to leave home and transfer to Temple. Drake is trying to convey the message that sometimes we must let go of something that may be holding us back to reach the highest versions of ourselves to see what we are capable of.
Reflecting On How Much I’ve Grown
It’s been a year since I transferred to Temple and the growth I have experienced from the fall semester of 2023 to now (fall semester of 2024) is unimaginable. I have established myself in my student organizations, I found a balance of making time for family and friends by visiting home at least once a month, and I immersed myself in trying new things that brought me outside of my comfort zone. The one thing that has remained constant throughout my journey has been listening to Drake. Listening to his music reminds me that I am not the only person moving from one environment to another and that I must continue to move forward despite being uncomfortable. Although Drake had a rough upbringing, he did not let that define him and who he was destined to be in the future. He chose to be better than his past and create the best possible life for himself.
Listening to Drake’s music has helped me cope with the struggles of adjusting to a new environment, finding a sense of belonging, and regaining confidence. I am a strong believer that mental health should be a top priority for college students. There are so many coping mechanisms that students may turn to when they are going through a hard time like drugs, alcohol, or self-harm. I am extremely fortunate that I was able to turn to music to get me through my transfer student journey.
Earlier this year Drake was on tour, and I was able to see him perform in April in Long Island, New York.
He performed songs like “Feel No Ways” and “Started From the Bottom”. It was an eye-opening experience to see around 17,000-19,000 people in the stadium and how they also have an emotional connection to Drake’s music. I’ve listened to Drake from childhood to adulthood, through both the highs and lows of life. I got to see him in concert for the first time at a point where I was adjusting to one of the biggest changes in my life. The experience was so surreal, it was a full circle moment. The event brought me so much clarity, it was a full-circle moment. It was almost as if I had gone through so much to get to the “reward” which was being well mentally but also being able to attend the concert.