I have never been a Selena Gomez aficionado, but her newest album, “Revival,” which was released this past October, is what I have been playing non-stop lately. Not only do the songs on “Revival” have extraordinarily sick beats, but listening a little closer, I realized that all of the songs (no doubt written based on Selena Gomez’s own experiences) are applicable to anybody. I compiled a list of her most ingenious lyrics from “Revival” and the wisdom I have gathered from them.

Rise

“Like the air you can
Rise from the rubble with your mind, you can hover
You can rise like the tide, like the heat in the summer
Yes, I know there are those who will wanna bring you down
But you can rise with your mind and make your higher power proud
You can rise
Like the air you can rise”

Not only are similes a form of figurative language approved by English teachers, they are exceptionally effective in inspiring listeners to “rise” and overcome whatever obstacles are thrown their way. What goes up must come down, but what goes down must come up, too. I get it – there are situations that may seem impossible to get out of, but when you need that extra motivation or just want to compare yourself with one of the four ancient elements, just remember that “like the air, you can rise.”

Me & My Girls

“And if we want it, we take it
If we need money, we make it…
But you don’t understand
I don’t need a man
Me and my girls, me and my girls”

This song is about women who are strong, independent and support one another. With so many love songs about the girl pining for the guy in circulation, this song, with themes of female empowerment (not to mention its “Old West” vibes), is refreshing to listen to. I understand the lyrics, at face value, may not cater to all genders, however, the overall “self-confidence is important” thing should be something that anyone could relate to.

Revival

“I feel like I’ve awakened lately
The chains around me are finally breaking
I’ve been under self-restoration
I’m becoming my own salvation…
What I’ve learned is so vital
More than just survival
This is my revival”

What I have personally learned during my time on this planet is dependency gets you nowhere. I used to be extremely shy – I even needed assistance during socratic seminars because I was too scared to raise my voice to fight for a chance to speak. This dependency on others to advocate on my behalf did not accomplish anything besides furthering my already prevalent introversion. This is where revival, or a change, comes into play. After freshman year, it was like something just clicked. I surrounded myself with people who I liked. I joined clubs and participated in activities that I truly wanted to do. I have experienced my own revival, which is pretty evident in the fact that I now find it extremely hard to shut up sometimes. I advocate for myself and am becoming more and more independent as the days tick by. However cheesy it sounds, I feel like I am not just surviving as a scared shadow like I had been, but I have become a more confident, extroverted human being, which has opened up many new friendships and opportunities for me. And it is really, really nice.

Kill ‘Em With Kindness

“Your lies are bullets
Your mouth’s a gun
And no war in anger
Was ever won
Put out the fire before igniting
Next time you’re fighting
Kill ’em with kindness”

I think most people will agree with me when I say high school can be tough. There are haters and motivators, test-takers and heartbreakers. Many different personalities and beliefs clash every day. What I have learned is that not everyone will like you, and it is impossible to please everyone. Disagreements and drama will no doubt arise, however, when things like that occur, there is no need to further the antipathy. Yes, it may be easier to reply to a mean comment with an even more rude reply, but fighting fire with fire never turns out well. There have been situations where I try a snarky comeback, but I always end up feeling worse than before, rather than satisfied. Instead of setting myself up for a more complicated, dramatic life, I am going to try to opt for something called common decency and maybe even a little touch of kindness and consideration – and I encourage everyone else to do the same. My girl Selena Gomez said it best: kill ‘em with kindness.