A Proud and Graduated Fan
Dear Taylor,
I am not a social media expert, I am also not a teenager with cool slang, but I just graduated. I am 26, so it’s odd to write like a fan wishing for you to read this, but I hope you do.
I am a first generation immigrant and it took me almost 8 years and 7 semesters to graduate, but I did it. Last fall, when 1989 came out, I started my job search. I was invited for an interview in NYC. At the time I had listened to your song “Welcome to New York” on repeat, but never thought I could live there. I thought the song was going to be the anthem of my new start as a college graduate, but it was more than that.
As I flew to NYC for the first round of interviews I rotated 'Welcome to New York' and Kendrick Lamar’s 'Backseat Freestyle'. I did this for 5 rounds of interviews. Coincidentally, your song was so powerful that instead of ending in DC, this Fall I’m officially moving to New York with a job in Wall Street.
That alone is worth writing to you about, but I am 26 and I wouldn’t have done it, until today- when you congratulated all graduates. I chose not to attend my college graduation because it would have been too high a cost for my parents to go. They are hard-working, but are going through some tough times moving to a new city. I chose to instead fly to my hometown (Barranquilla, Colombia) and stay with family so my parents can get settled. It’s really not bad, but I had to miss the ceremony.
I saw the posts from friends on social media and even my sister graduating, but it hit me when I saw the video of your award speech that this battle had been won. I hadn’t thought of how long the fight had lasted til that moment. I know it wasn’t meant for me specifically, but all I could think of was ‘How cool! Even Taylor is congratulating me!” Silly, but when you are so tired, it’s those things that bring you back to the amazingness of the moment.
I saw you on the RED Tour and was blown away. I cried, laughed and there are so many selfies to blackmail me with. I have tickets to the 1989 World Tour and I can’t wait to sing to every song and dance the night away with my best friend Ann, as my goodbye to DC and the ‘Hello' to New York.
I am writing this long message just to say thank you because last night, for the first time, I realized I did it!
Your proud fan,
Ana