There’s No Shame in Being a Taylor Swift Fan

This past Saturday night was magical for me. No, I was not at Disney World, or Hogwarts. I was with 14,000 other screaming fans at the St. Pete Times Forum ready to welcome America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift.

I had been anticipating this concert for months, and was giddy with excitement when the night finally arrived. I entered the Forum surrounded by young girls with curled hair, clad with sparkles and cowboy boots. I giggled at all of the signs proclaiming love for the country-pop star, some cleverly using lyrics, “I would be enchanted to meet you, Taylor!” Some real and from the heart, “The family that listens to Taylor together, stays together.”

After buying my Speak Now World Tour t-shirt, I made my way to my seat and attempted to enjoy the opening act, South Carolina rock band, Need to Breath. But let’s be honest, I was there for T-Swizzle, and anyone between me and her was just there to kill time.

Finally, it was time. The lights dimmed, the opening guitar riff of “Sparks Fly” began to play and then like a dream come true, rising out from the stage came Taylor herself, a strong and confident smile on her face like she already knew she was about to rock the 813. I screamed my face off louder than the 12-year-olds next to me with no embarrassment. I knew every word to every song and sang until my voice couldn’t take it anymore. Looking back, there wasn’t one moment I wasn’t smiling, laughing, singing, screaming or some awful cackling combination of those.

When I told other people of my weekend plans, I was always surprised at the response I got. Something along the lines of “A Taylor Swift concert? I’m sorry.” But after the show, I realized something. I’m not sorry. I am a proud T. Swift fan, from the moment I heard “Tim McGraw” for the first time when I was 12, to Saturday night jumping with joy as the wide red curtain opened on stage, and I probably will stay proud for a long time.

I’ve come down to one reason that I hope other girls will be able to relate to. Taylor knows. She really knows anything and everything that a girl could go through from a first date, to break ups, to conquering a fear or saying you’re sorry. She just knows. As each song came and went throughout the concert, it hit me that there wasn’t a Swift song I couldn’t relate to at one time or another. I put faith in her as a fan to get me through what I can’t get through on my own.

What she writes is real and truthful. Because when I was 15 and someone told me they loved me, I really did believe them. And when that same guy cheated on me, I told

myself it was his loss and he should’ve said no, as I tossed every photo I had of him into a fire pit. Because I find comfort in knowing that people who tried to cut me down in high school will find themselves drunk and alone, while I am living my life to the fullest because all they are is mean. Because after my senior prom, I realized I had finally found the guy who makes me want to dance in a storm in my best dress and makes me feel fearless. He made a rebel of careless man’s careful daughter and is the best thing that’s ever been mine.

Call me naive, call me a hopeless romantic, it doesn’t matter. I have no shame in dancing around to Swift’s music in my bedroom, hairbrush in hand. For me, she isn’t just another celebrity that is seeking the No. 1 slot on AT40. She is a friend, a confidant, even a therapist. But most importantly, she’s just another girl trying to figure life out, just like the rest of us.

Chelsea Daubar can be reached cdaubar@gmail.com.