Music has a way of bringing all types of people together at SNU–through a genre, a favorite song, or even a single lyric. At Southern Nazarene University, where people from all over the country (and even the world) come together, music becomes a shared thread that helps understand a piece of each person’s identity.
That’s why I took a walk across campus to ask one simple question: “What are you listening to on your way to class?”
When asked, Kaydi Clapper responded, “I’m listening to my Tate McRae playlist.” And when asked about her favorite hype song, she added, “Goodbye Yesterday. It helps me get up in the morning for the 6 a.m. practices.”
Not everyone, however, chooses to blast music on their way to class. Abigail Johnson, a freshman, shared, “Right now, the playlist I’m listening to is Hudson Westbrook. Country is my go-to playlist when walking from class to class. And my pump up song I think would have to be Maria by Justin Bieber, I used to do gymnastics, and it brings back memories of me hanging out with my friend Kate on the way to practice.”
Walking across SNU, asking these questions, it became clear that every pair of headphones carries a story. Some songs are tied to childhood memories, some to faith, and others are simply the latest top hits.
Beyond personal taste, music plays a bigger role in college life here at SNU. It fills Chapel with worship, the stadiums with game day anthems, the coffee shop, Sawyer with background tunes, and the dorm halls with playlists spilling from rooms. It shows up at the student-led worship nights and everyday moments in between.
“I feel like everyone here gets brought together by worship at the chapel, and that’s a good way we connect here,” Johnson voiced.
Maybe the real question isn’t about what you’re listening to, but the story behind it. The next time you see someone with their headphones on, don’t be afraid to ask–you just might discover a new artist, playlist, music taste, or even a new friend. At SNU, music isn’t just background noise. It’s a rhythm of campus life that brings people together in countless ways.
Photo by: Ella Phillips