Amber Petkosek, Social Media Editor:

The album that changed my life is “Songs About Jane” by Maroon 5.

When this album actually changed my life was nearly a decade after it came out and it was just by chance that this album happened to be in my car.

In February of 2012 I moved myself to Orlando, Fla. for an internship with Disney. This was the album that played on repeat for the majority of the drive.

When I hear this album now all I can remember is how petrified I was to be moving alone to live with five people I had never met before and how excited I was to really be on my own for the first time.

To me this album really signifies me growing up; coming to college paled in comparison to moving myself half-way across the country.

Of course, after six and a half months in Orlando, what better way to have made my drive back home than to listen to the very same album.

Steven W. Echard, Photo Editor:

When I look at music I see an influence on my life and no artist has influenced me more than Ringo Starr.

His album “Vertical Man” gave me a new way to look at the world. I went from worrying about what life threw at me to being understanding towards life’s complications.

Starr’s lyrics, from the title song, “When the world is coming down on you and your back’s against the wall, change the glass that you’ve been looking through, it’s really half full after all,” is a reminder that even when things are bothering me I have the power to change the way I see the world around me.

We all go through struggles in our lives and need something to turn to in these times, so a Ringo Starr album is my way of getting focused on the positive aspects of life.

Abby Welsh, Managing Editor:

When I was in the seventh grade, every day after school I would immediately run upstairs, call my best friend at the time Hannah and surf the web for new music.

Each week it would be a different song. We would learn every lyric too and obsessively watch the music video.

One day, I decided to watch MTV instead and the first music video that was playing was “U Remind Me” by Usher. Needless to say, that was the song choice of the week, except this week‘s obsession soon turned into a lifetime one.

Everyone who knows me understands I will not shut up about Usher. I don’t know why I am so in love with the man, but his music always puts a smile across my face. When I went to his “OMG Tour” in 2010, he pointed me out in the crowd. I cried.

No matter the reason I fell in love with his music, I did and I am so blessed I did because his music will without a doubt put that needed smile on my face.