Music has always been a fundamental part of my life. From 13 years of piano lessons beginning at age 5 to 7 years of violin lessons to expanding my music tastes to encompass nearly every genre possible. Pop, country, R&B, hip-hop, musical soundtracks, Korean and Japanese pop – all of it is incorporated into the many playlists I listen to daily. I take pride in the playlists I have for different aspects of my life, including for studying, driving, working out, holidays, and walking commutes. Both setting and mood determine which playlist I will listen to. All my playlists can be found here, for anyone who seeks inspiration in music or recommendations to add to their own playlists!
Listening to and creating music greatly helps with my mental health, and calms me down in times of high stress and anxiety. It is a passion that is more prominent than ever since I started medical school. My worries are assuaged as I get lost in lyrics, rhythms, and cadences. Most recently, I have enjoyed learning choreographed dances in my spare time, which are my primary source of stress relief these days. Popular choreography is unique in that people around the world are united in learning the same dance moves, and each dancer can add their own personal flair to it.
Music is also very prominent in the hospital, where surgeons listen to tunes in the operating room, and iPods filled with patient-picked music are offered to patients in the Veterans Administration to help prevent delirium and make patients feel more at home. Music is a universal language that every culture speaks, and it is even more powerful when it crosses cultures. Whenever checking in with your own wellbeing and mental health, I highly advocate to #KeepMusicinMind.
