This weekend, Parkway West said its final goodbye to the class of 2024. From entering high school as confused teenagers, navigating education through Zoom boxes and online learning, to exiting as mature, confident young adults ready to take on the world, the seniors have had quite the journey throughout their four years roaming these halls.

With the day they put on their cap and gown to walk across the stage finally arriving, the distant thought of saying a final goodbye has become a reality, and in times of emotional chaos, music seems to be the calm through the storm that puts into words the bittersweet sentiment that we can’t quite always express ourselves. To sift through the numerous tones and messages in this collection, let’s explore popular inclusions, new finds and hidden gems highlighted below.

Author’s Note

Before diving into the playlist, I wanted to make a quick note of my taste in genre and artist, as this collection of music is subjective and centered around my favorites as opposed to that of a larger group. A majority of my music taste can be categorized as pop or alt-pop — I have a proclivity towards mainstream beats, and will always indulge myself with lyrically complex music, namely Taylor Swift. As someone with an affinity for melancholy melodies, an overarching theme of many of my self-crafted playlists is dealing with sadness and grappling with acceptance, a message that shines clear throughout this one as well.

Popular Songs

Kicking it off with the classic bops that have been heavily featured on the radio, social media and possibly even your own playlists. First up is “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. The song was first released in 2015 as a part of the “Fast and Furious 7” soundtrack but quickly rose to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for over 10 weeks. Listening to the song is a reflective experience: recognizing the good times, while acknowledging an unavoidable divergence from those you know and love. It’s one of the best songs to capture the essence of grad season, as it marks the conflicted emotions of reaching the end of one of the most transformative eras in a young person’s life in order to make room for the beginning of new chapters to come. 

Next is “Sign of the Times,” Harry Styles’ breakout single following his separation from hit boy band, One Direction. The song connects to emotions of sadness, but also acceptance as change is inevitable with age, strongly depicted by the beginning of the chorus which goes “Just stop your crying, it’s a sign of the times.” The song can be described as the acceptance stage of grief — the clock can’t slow down, the past can’t be relived and the world won’t stop on its axis, so we may as well grow into the idea of looming unfamiliarity rather than away from it.

The last song in this section is “Ribs” by Lorde. Lorde originally wrote this song as a teenager scared of becoming an adult, writing “I’ve never felt more alone, it feels so scary getting old.” The song also emulates nostalgia and gratitude for the formative memories made with friends: the countless sleepovers, waves of triumph and despair and even school dances with your people may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be happy about the good times, or remain close with them even after walking across the stage. The sentiment is reassuring amidst the several ‘goodbyes’ that have taken place over the past few days.

New Finds

This next section is dedicated to songs that you may have never heard before but may surprise you in how understood you feel when giving them a listen. The first comes from my dad’s eclectic collection of all-time favorites: “Have It All” by Jason Mraz. Though he’s known for his 2008 Grammy-nominated hit, “I’m Yours,” Mraz’s positive, upbeat tone comes through much stronger in “Have It All.” With the starting instrumentals reminiscent of preschool sing-a-longs and the music video featuring young children smiling, singing, dancing and playing with one another, it’s hard not to think of the well-wishers in your own life, while also hoping for great things for the people you’ve grown up with. 

The other song in this category is “Stubborn Love” by the Lumineers, a band also better known for other songs, namely “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia,” the latter also being on the playlist. The lyric that hits listeners like a sucker punch to the gut is “It’s better to feel pain than nothing at all.” A popular and controversial saying that, in my opinion, especially applies to leaving the only life and the only people you’ve ever known. Sure, things won’t be the same, but similar to “Ribs,” this song emphasizes the importance of being happy for the experiences and love received and given throughout shared journeys.

Hidden Gems

This section is exactly what the heading suggests: pieces that may circulate unnoticed, but are criminally underrated and overshadowed. “Older” by Alec Benjamin is one of the most beautifully-written songs on this playlist, with the quick-paced beat matching the overwhelming and anxious whirlwind of getting older, while eventually slowing down at the end when the story comes full circle. Eventually, our kids are going to go through the same cycle, then their kids: the song represents panic, but also realization that this is simply part of the circle of life.

“Team” is the second Lorde song that absolutely deserves to have its praises sung. Just like “Ribs,” the song is slower, but has rather positive notes and lyrics. What makes “Team” stand out is just how unifying it is — “we’re on each others’ teams” — she sings, noting that the town, community and environment is something that only the people who live through it with you will realize. No one from any other school is going to understand cracks about a salmon suit or the way “Longhorn Country, let’s ride” altered our brain chemistry, and no other class is going to comprehend the rocky roads of a virtual freshman year; Parkway West’s class of 2024 is especially unique in these sense and that’s exactly why being on each others’ teams is quintessential to remember even after your final “We are West High.”

Vibes Emulated

The hope for this playlist was to elicit a nuanced feeling: sad that a 13-year chapter has reached its final page, but excited to explore the rest of the story. Letting go to move on to bigger and better things is necessary, but so is “[holding] onto the memories” as “they will hold on to you” in the wise words of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Class of 2024, congratulations on your graduation, and remember: Once a longhorn, always a longhorn.

Special Note

There’s one final song I must highlight before letting the readers dive into this playlist and that is “Emily I’m Sorry” by boygenius. This song is featured amongst this assorted medley for one person: alumnus Emily Early, who suggested I include this song partially as a joke. She is the reason I had the confidence to try writing A&E stories the summer before my sophomore year, diverging from the comfort of familiarity to the enriching, growthful experience of having her as my editor. Early served as an Editor-In-Chief this past year, and I’m so grateful for how much she, along with alumni Elizabeth Franklin and Serena Liu, has taught me and the friendship I’ve gained from working with them this year. The Pathfinder is so incredibly grateful for you three and the impact you’ve had on this site, and we can’t wait to see the amazing things you accomplish.