Music connects us. It comforts us. It evokes nostalgia throughout our lives. The Class of 2026 is in their last first quarter of high school — a time that’s exciting, stressful, and overall bittersweet. By the fourth quarter, seniors will have countless physical keepsakes, such as yearbooks and photos. However, what truly transports them back isn’t something that they can flip through or hold — it’s music.
Lakewood High School is a unique learning environment for several reasons; however, its primary strength lies in its diverse student body. The students who populate the halls of Lakewood High are boldly different. They vary in cultural and ethnic backgrounds, which generates a wonderful multicultural environment. Beyond differing backgrounds, students are involved in a range of activities, from athletics to academics to the arts. Even further, students come from very different home lives. These factors not only contribute to the inclusive atmosphere at Lakewood High but also provide for a variety of music tastes.
So why is this important? With all the other memorabilia given to the seniors, why is something intangible like music so significant? When you ask the seniors, they will tell you firsthand how music can be tied to a specific period of time. “A certain song will take me back to freshman year,” said senior Erin Boyer, referring to “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy. Boyer is not alone in feeling this way; senior Joey Lautzenhiser agrees, “That was sophomore year,” she said, in reference to “Virginia Beach” by Drake. The seniors agree that music has been an integral part of their first three years of high school and that certain songs hold sentimental value.
It’s not only the students who feel that music can act as a time capsule to moments in their lives; teachers feel it too. Michael Dandron has recently stepped into his role as the new Lakewood High School orchestra director. He still recalls his favorite song from his senior year of high school being “Bright Lights” by Matchbox Twenty. “I’ll hear a song that I haven’t played since I was a little kid, and it will throw me into that place and time,” Dandron said, “I’ll be by those people and in my head I’ll have those feelings — it’s kind of like a little time machine.” Dandron’s words clearly illustrate the true power that music holds when it comes to reminiscing. Hearing an old song can transport you instantly to an old place, time, or feeling.
Not only does music hold nostalgia, but it is also resoundingly universal. With such a wide range of genres and artists, there are endless new songs to listen to, yet that doesn’t mean individuals don’t have their favorites. When surveying the senior class, they were asked two questions: “What is your favorite song?” and “What song encapsulates your senior year?” All of these songs are compiled on this playlist.
As the seniors listen to these songs right now, they are simply favorites. However, in five, 10, or 20 years, these very songs will teleport them back. Music isn’t just something to fill the silence; it adds depth and light and gives us something to attach our memories to.
All in all, it is more than just a playlist — it’s a time capsule. It doesn’t just represent the individual music tastes and favorite songs of the class of 2026, but also all of the feelings, friendships, and fleeting moments that defined the seniors’ final year of high school. These songs will one day change from temporary favorites to reminders of laughing with friends in the halls, last-minute cramming for tests, and everything in between. As the seniors work towards graduation and prepare for whatever awaits them, this playlist will remain as a timeless echo of their senior year.
