Sound and Lack Thereof

 Like many people my age, music is a form of self expression. Whether that be listening, sharing or blasting it, music is a huge part of my everyday, and it makes up a big part of who I am. Though I am not a musician or singer, nor do I claim to be one, I listen very closely to the intricacies of songs and how each portion and each instrument makes me feel. Curating the perfect playlist is one of my favorite past times, as I try and capture those specific feelings and repeat them over and over in different variations. 

Though I enjoy music almost constantly, strangely enough I have to study in almost complete silence. While my friends often study with headphones or earbuds and a playlist playing, I find it hard to multitask. Playing music on top of trying to think about something other than music typically results in a terribly unproductive study session, as I almost always end up drifting off into whatever it is I'm listening to, whether that be my regular music or classical playlists. I've found I study incredibly well in places such as the mezzanine levels of the library, where there is enough happening that I can use it almost as a white noise. Printers turning on and off, the sounds of footsteps and doors opening and closing softly, all contribute to a quiet thrum that allows me to focus on my work. White noise itself, however, is overwhelming and I find it to be disruptive. How strange sounds can be for different people's focus!