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Hi listeners, my name is Grace Bao, and I am so excited for you to learn more about me through music. I was born in Colorado but raised in Texas. As an only child, I can say with confidence that it is not all that. My hobbies include hiking, binge watching Netflix (especially Gilmore Girls), spending way too much money on unnecessary items, and journaling. I went to a magnet school located in San Antonio called Health Careers High School, which helped me realize that a career in the medical field was not for me. I do, however, have a fascination for social media and how it plays such a huge role in all of our lives, thus I'm currently an advertising major here at the University of Texas at Austin.

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Before you move on to the soundtrack section, I need to share some important insight. This soundtrack, symbolized by the backdrop, highlights a couple of life changing events that have helped me grow into the person I am today. As you listen, pay close attention to how the mood of the songs aren't stagnant. Like a rollercoaster, there will be ups and downs, but what matters the most is what you take away from each experience.

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Growing up as an Asian American was confusing for a young girl. It was always an internal struggle to embrace my culture with pride when my environment taught me otherwise. However, when I traveled back to China, I was exposed to my roots and learned to love where I am from. Everything from my culture's holidays, food, and music was shown to me and I had the opportunity to take in the beauty of it all. I was lost, until I found a piece of my identity waiting for me in China.

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The pandemic had placed everyone in isolation, and communication between friends and family took place online for the most part. Virtually, I seemed fine, even great, to my friends because I was cautious to only post pictures of me while I was having "fun". Little did anyone know that it was all a lie. Being isolated from friends, who had gifted me so much joy, took a huge mental and physical toll on my body. I was simply trying my best during quarantine.

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Essentially, this song emphasizes that at 00:00 (midnight) a new day starts. Around the time this song was released, my grandfather passed away. He was the first person who I had a strong connection with to pass away, so I had a hard time coping. However, listening to this song on repeat when I felt overwhelmed with emotions reminded me that every day at midnight was the start of a new day; all of my previous worries would disappear for the time being and I had the chance to breathe and be happy.

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Earning my own money and not having to always rely on my parents gave me a sense of independence that I had severely lacked beforehand. Working my first job at Bar-B-Cuties introduced me to the life of a working woman. The job taught me that money does not come easy and the importance of budgeting. Before, I would spend money carelessly, but now I try my best to think rationally before making any purchases.

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Not my proudest moments, but I have taken a couple of amazing people for granted in high school. You never know how well someone treats you until they suddenly stop one day. After losing these friendships, I have learned that it's important to always check in with friends, ask if they need anything, and always reassure them that you love them. I may have learned the hard way but at least now I'm aware.

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Senior year, I had a nasty rumor spread about me and people's true colors began to show. A lot of friends quickly switched up on me, but a couple stayed by my side. One of these friends was Sara. Everyone deserves a Sara. I've realized that some people aren't true friends with you and that's okay because it's better to have a couple of real friends than a lot of fake ones.

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On the very last day of high school, right before the bell rang to dismiss the last class, my class president went on the intercom to play 22 by Taylor Swift. This was a bittersweet moment for all seniors because we knew that we have approached the end of an era. We all exchanged goodbyes to our friends, favorite teachers, and underclassmen who we would miss dearly. This song reminds me of all the eventful times I had my senior year: homecoming, the powderpuff game, prom, graduation, and many more.

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Starting college in a new city was frightening at first, but I soon realized that this new chapter of life has granted me freedom. No one is here holding me back; in fact, everyone is the exact opposite. I'm able to express myself freely, go to fun social events, and experience new things. Meeting new people and becoming friends to simply live while we're young is the whole basis of college life and I am here for it!

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To be honest, I was quite skeptical to start this assignment. I had trouble thinking up events that have played a drastic role in my life, but once I thought of one, the others came flooding into my mind. I really appreciated how creating this soundtrack gave me the opportunity to see what I deemed life changing; while I did expect some (the passing of my grandfather), I did not expect others (getting my first job). I discovered that my brain has connected specific songs to specific memories. While brainstorming, I instantly knew what song I wanted to tie some of my memories to. This showed that I associate songs with memories which is really fascinating to me because I don't realize that I'm connecting songs to experiences right then and there. Something I hope the listeners take away from listening to my soundtrack is how each song captures a different lesson. Furthermore, even though the songs aren't related hand in hand, they have worked together in order to help me grow into a better version of myself.