Editor's note: This spring's Student Voices question was, "What’s your favorite song ever, and why?" Here are the winning essays.

First place

Grade 7-8

“Om bhur bhuva swaha. Tat savitur varenyam. Bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yonah prachodayat.” Oh God, the giver of Life, remover of pains and sorrows, bestower of happiness, and creator of the universe. You are the most luminous, pure and adorable. We meditate on you, may you guide and inspire our thoughts in the right direction.

Written in Sanskrit, these lyrics are from the "Gayatri Mantra," a song and chant that has been passed down over 3,000 years ago by Hindu tradition. Although it’s only 13 words, this song has truly been a life changer for me and the way I see the world.

It feels weird to say a song, especially a prayer song, has been such a huge comfort and has had such a huge impact on my life.

But it’s true.

Before I started listening to this song, I’d been such a slacker. I would do anything to avoid doing what needed to be done. My room was a pigsty. Every single assignment started in what felt like the last hour before it was due.

Yet, ever since I started listening to this song, I've been able to retain knowledge and concentrate.

I can now better engage in my studies, and my grades have improved a lot. Every night before I go to sleep, I listen and sing along to this song. And every morning when I wake up, my mind feels clear and I feel stress-free. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

I never had a strong connection with my cultural background. It’s one of my biggest insecurities. Forget being able to speak the languages of my parents and family, I can’t understand a single word.

When I was younger and was racially discriminated against by white kids, I’d try to hang out with the brown kids but I couldn't relate to them at all. Since Indian traditions and Hinduism are pretty much connected, religion is the only way I feel like I’m able to properly connect with my culture.

This past year, I’ve become more religious, and I’ve started praying regularly. The "Gayatri Mantra" is a huge part of that. This song has been helping me be at peace with myself and who I am. Being so disconnected with my culture, I’ve felt so ashamed. But recently I’ve never felt so much closer to my culture and God, and it’s a really good feeling.

The "Gayatri Mantra" has really transformed my point of view and perspective of life. The things I have once hated before have become a blessing, a learning experience. I am able to concentrate and shift my mind from the little things that don’t matter to the big things that do.

I have been able to nurture my inner harmony and focus on the important things. This song has helped me through my lowest of times where I was the utmost worst version of myself, and it has helped shape who I am to this day.

Ava Patel, Millstone Middle School

Grade 9-12

I am no stranger to silence, the impassive conversations that whirl in my head. I grew up not bold enough to speak up about the verbal violence that occurred on the outside — in fear of hurting someone’s feelings because I knew what it’s like to constantly have to be at war with everyone, even myself.

All I needed at that very moment was a song that deeply recalled life's darkest moments and served as unconditional support for those dealing with mental health issues.

It's about being there for someone you love when they can no longer be there for themselves. It's the desperate attempt to show someone the light that they cannot see in themselves, and to save them by any means necessary — providing power and strength that will enable others to someday see that the world is a better place with you in it.

It's about refusing to drown in the darkness of depression.

The lyrics speak of someone bracing themselves to a friend who is struggling, and urging them to keep on moving. The person in the song can be heard to do anything they can to help, including driving through the night and calling their friend's mother" "Don’t let this darkness fool you/All lights turned off can be turned on/I’ll drive, I’ll drive all night/ I’ll call your mom/Oh, dear, don’t be discouraged/ I’ve been exactly where you are/I’ll drive, I’ll drive all night/I’ll call your mom."

It illustrates how life goes downhill, but always comes back up.

Noah Kahan may just be a singer/songwriter who gained popularity over the last couple of months, but he’s more than that. He’s an artist who paints pictures of eternal growth, who doesn't give up until he's happy.

His song "Call Your Mom" is for the therapist friend, the friend who has held hands of every single person as they cried — those who are a little bit broken from it all but will do it all again as soon as someone needs it.

The power one song can bring to one heart lets me know deep inside that everything will be OK in the end.

Even if your past isn’t wonderful, the future is so bright.

Reassurance is the name of the game: The lights might be dim now, but there's hope, even if you can't see it. As the song says, "All lights turned off, can be turned on."

Avery Dravis, Point Pleasant High School

Second place

Grade 7-8

Supporting others is something I cherish. I’m there to comfort my friends when they’re sad, to celebrate with them when they’re happy, and to listen when they’re frustrated.

My arms are always open to offer a hug or helping hand, so if I had to choose a song that encapsulates my approach to life, it would be “Open Arms” by SZA.

The lyrics resonate with me deeply, as if SZA is speaking directly to my soul. A line that stands out is, “Push me away, I'll be right here.” reflects my belief in seeing the best in people, even when they drift away.

My dad often says that sometimes, people don't end up your friend because they don't deserve the kindness you offer. Despite this, I always try to be there for others, no matter what.

Yet this prompts a question: When will it be my turn to have someone support me when I need it? Everyone deserves someone to be by their side, to give them a comforting embrace during tough times.

In my life, that constant source of comfort is my dad. He’s always there to listen to my rants, no matter how trivial, and to soothe me with his hugs. I feel incredibly lucky to have such a strong bond with him, especially since many of my friends don't share a similar connection with their father.

My dad is more than just a parent — he is my best friend, my shopping buddy, and the one person I know I can always count on.

Not only do the lyrics in “Open Arms” strike a personal chord, but the song's significance extends beyond words. SZA’s popularity among people my age stems from her catchy beats and the meaningful stories in her songs. The soft rhythm of “Open Arms” creates a serene mood, offering comfort and calm in a world that can be anything but.

This song not only occupies a significant place in my heart, but it captivates me to a point where I can listen to it on loop without ever growing weary. Ellagrace Sarin, Dwight D. Eisenhower

Grade 9-12

Unstoppable. Invincible. Unbreakable.

Words that break silence. Words that create confidence. Words that manifest uniqueness.

Authors. Creators. Writers. People who enjoy what they do and want to lift spirits.

Ways to let go of anything and everything that happens. Ways to express yourself without showing it.

"Unstoppable" by Sia opens my eyes to a different way of thinking. I struggle with confidence all the time, especially in a competitive sport like mine with ups and downs. Going up 10 steps and then back five. You get major achievements and then all of a sudden, your world gets blindsided.

I was just doing so good. What happened?

You need that confidence to keep you going. You need to know that your not alone. You need to keep pushing yourself.

It's about the beat of the song, the intensity in the singing, the mood it gives. The lyrics say to believe that dreams will come true. This song doesn’t just tell me but shows me to keep going, and to not back down without a fight.

“I'm a Porsche with no brakes.”“Yeah, I win every single game.”“I'm so confident.”

"Unstoppable" brings out the best in people and shows that if you keep pushing forward, the best is yet to come.

You will have the brightest smile and the best feeling in the world once you achieve that goal. Confidence raises you to the highest mountain, and helps you overcome your most challenging goals.

Anna Getcliffe, Point Pleasant High School

Third Place

Grade 7-8

It was the summer of 2019 when I first heard my favorite song. It was the most magical summer I can remember. I was 9 years old, the third season of "Stranger Things" had just released, and VSCO girls were the newest trend.

It was a hot, sunny summer full of pools, sleepovers and fun. I look back on that summer because soon everything changed. The following year, we were all stuck at home, fearing a deadly disease. I was extremely bored and pining for another year like 2019.

To escape, I put in my new Airpods and turned on my favorite song, a song that takes me back to that summer of 2019 and everything about life back then: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."

For me, the song by Tears For Fears takes me to a happy place in my mind. I played it in the car, at the pool, at parties. I should have been sick of it, but I never was.

Summer had come to a close, but I still had my favorite song to listen to whenever I was reminiscing. In the summer of 2020, all people wanted was normalcy. Though I could relate to them, I would always escape to my Airpods and play my song.

I can see two sides of life within the song: being a child and growing up. When we are little, we are free to dream big without knowing restrictions. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" shows me the childlike innocence we all have, pretending to hold earth in our tiny hands.

The lyric “nothing ever lasts forever” gives me the sense of getting older — wishing life could be easy and carefree again. Though I am young, I understand the lyric that tells us that not everything in your life will last.

We have to accept that.

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" will always hold a special place in my heart. To be able to tune the world out for just 4 minutes and 12 seconds is a feeling you just can’t compare to anything else.

Grayson Guterl, Millstone Middle School

Grade 9-12

Growing up, I was always surrounded by music. Whether it was my dad pulling up into the driveway with his truck and his music on full blast, or waking up every Saturday morning to my mom's cleaning music that fills the house, music was always a part of my life.

My musical taste was entirely influenced by my parents. Now, whenever someone asks me what kind of music I listen to, I make a joke about my taste in music being similar to an average Mexican grandpa — it always gets a laugh.

But the truth is, I love my musical taste, and I'm proud of it. I would often be seen walking through the hallways of my local high school with Los Tigres del Norte blasting in my Airpods, enjoying every bit of it.

One of my all-time favorite songs by the group is "Mesa Del Rincon." Although the song is about heartbreak, it has a special place in my heart. It's been a part of my family's music collection for generations, and I know every single word.

It's a song that I can blast in the car and sing along with my parents, and it always brings back fond memories of all the family functions we've had over the years.

For me, songs like "Mesa Del Rincon" are a reminder of my culture and the traditions that shaped me into the person I am today.

This song may not be for everyone, but it's special to me. Whenever I listen to it, I feel like I'm back at one of those family functions, surrounded by loved ones, and enjoying the music that brings us all together.

Ashley Vargas, Southern Regional

Honorable Mention Winners

Grade 7-8

Athena Barrett, Oak Hill AcademyMax DeVivo, Oak Hill Academy Olivia Lopusznick, Oak Hill Academy

Grade 9-12

Cuincy Hostinsky, Point Pleasant High SchoolSkylar Soltis, Southern RegionalEmma Forsythe, Point Pleasant High School

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore students share their favorite songs