“It’s Nice to Have a Friend”, a song on her Lover album, has become a true sentiment as artist Taylor Swift is able to be just that, a friend, for thousands of people around the world. Taylor Swift has received lots of criticism from being a great artist to being just another basic pop singer. Throughout her career, Swift has proved time and time again that she is not only a great artist but is one of the best and most relatable artists of this generation.

   Taylor Swift has grown up with the girls who were listening to her songs for years. Fans have been able to grow themselves and even see the way she has grown through her songs. Her self-titled debut album was released in 2006 when she was just 16 years old. Now at the age of 30, Swift has released her eighth studio album titled Folklore. 

   Over the years, Swift has managed to evolve from country to pop to indie successfully. This is a feat that few artists are able to successfully transition into. Most artists will stick with the genre they started their career in. Singers such as Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, and others who got their start young, started in pop and have remained within the genre. Swift has been able to transition from genre to genre leaving her fans with excitement over what she will do next. 

   “She has developed a huge support network. She has a huge fan base to support her and artists in the music industry to help her out,” said junior Lauryn Rossi about her impact as an artist.

   As a very talented artist, Swift has won several awards. She has won a Grammy Award for album of the year for both her second album, Fearless, as well as her fifth studio album, 1989. She has also won the American Music Award for Artist of the Year on five different occasions.. Swift has won several other music awards for her songs and music videos.

   Recently, Swift has even directed music videos such as the video for her track “The Man” as well as the new documentary on Disney Plus, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions. “The Man” even received nominations for MTV Music Award for Best Video for Good. 

   Swift has not only made great achievements through her awards and nominations, but she has continued to write her own songs that make her someone you can always count on. From breakup songs to songs about falling in love, Swift has a song for the feelings of growing up and what it is like to have loved and lost.

   “Count to ten take it in this is life before you know who you’re gonna be at fifteen,” sang Swift in her hit song “Fifteen” on her Fearless album.

   Simple lines such as these make a fifteen-year-old girl walking through the giant halls of a new high school in freshman year feel a little less alone. Swift, as someone much older, has been through what can be a very overwhelming change and even wrote a song about how it feels to be a high schooler. 

   “She is a role model because she has developed into a strong woman who is ok with herself and is breaking what a perfect girl looks like and acts like,” said senior Tory Schafer.

   Swift is able to maintain a strong connection with her fans and continues to show that you are not as alone as you may feel. Even through her change as a person and as an artist, the core of her songs and who she is remains. Swift continues to write her own lyrics and show openness with her fans, which makes her accessible and relatable for many young men and women who are trying to make their way.