Which Taylor Swift era are you based on your Sheffield university stereotype

The final Eras Tour show is fast approaching, and though she didn’t visit the best city in the world (Sheffield, duh), it got me thinking: if her iconic eras were university students, which one would you be? After all, Taylor’s music captures every stage of life – from the fresh faced excitement of starting something new, to the reflective bitterness of closing a chapter (next chapter) – and what’s more chaotic and transformative than student life?

Whether you’re still finding your feet as a bright – eyed fresher, drowning in deadlines during exam season, or finally somewhat thriving in your final year, there’s a Taylor Swift Era for every uni student out there. So, let’s find out which one you would be as you navigate these years. Don’t worry evermore, I didn’t forget you like Blondie might. Are you ready for it?

Debut – the fresher

You’ve basically just arrived and are still wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, trying to find a place in this world (uni). Watch you strike a match on all your wasted time and make the most of your university life. You can’t stop romanticising Freshers’ Week (no, Drew from Corp will not text you back), and you’re still a little homesick. Your worst nightmare is being invisible and stuck on the outside, so you try to befriend everyone on your course and in your flat, but oh my my my, you have a big storm coming. We can find you diving headfirst into every society, new experience, and themed club night. Sheffield holds many Taylor Swift nights, whether at Leadmill or Network; you’ll always find your people.

Fearless – the never gets the credit

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You spent all morning cleaning the kitchen after your flatmates’ party last night, so why has no one thanked you? Riding in on a white horse at the last minute to save the group project did nothing for you; it’s your louder classmates who get all the credit. You don’t mind; at least you don’t act like you do. No matter how much effort you put in or how much you excel, someone else seems to get all the praise. It reminds me of a certain award show. Like the underrated gems of Taylor’s “Fearless” album, you never seem to get the credit you genuinely deserve (I’m looking at you ‘Come In With The Rain’.) Now, I’m not going to be like Kanye. I’ma let you finish — just kidding — these things won’t change. 

Speak Now – the independent one

I can see you. You refuse to join the course Whatsapp group, you have never been and never will be a member of a society, and if your flatmates ask if you want to join them on a night out, you don’t even answer the door. People think you’re mean, but just as speak now was written solo, you’re a lone wolf. It would take superman to get you out to socialise! You are self-sufficient and love to be in control. Group projects? Not your thing. You’re driven enough to smash your goals alone and not just independent but invincible. When others are getting caught up in drama, you’re not afraid to stand up and speak now, and when your children point to the pictures, well, there won’t be any.

Red – the heartbroken one

You are a hopeless romantic looking for the one. Your ex? A summer fling? It doesn’t matter; you fall hard, and you fall fast. Either way, your uni experience is a red breakup anthem that comes to life. You’ve just been ghosted by this week’s treacherous situationship, and swear this is the last time you’ll agree to a Tinder date at West Street Live (who even is Jake, 29 from Sheffield anyway, ew). It’s nothing new. Your flatmates know you as the one making sad playlists at 3am and crying after a night out. We know all too well that you’ll be back on the apps looking for a better man and ready to get your heart broken all over again this time next week. You use these tumultuous flings as inspiration for your creative work, whether art, poetry, or music; Taylor would be proud of your ability to turn heartbreak into success.

1989 – the small towner in a big city

I hopped off the train at SHF – wait, wrong artist. I mean, Welcome To New Yor – Sheffield! You took the leap, left your small town, moved to a city, and won’t shut up about it. You might be in your 1989 era and reinventing yourself, but there’s no bad blood. You have a big group of friends and seem to know everyone wherever you go. Your bio is something like ‘Whitby/Sheffield,’ and you go around saying, ‘I was born to live in the big city’; this tells everyone that your A-level results weren’t good enough to get into UCL. That explains the blank space where your assignments should be. But who cares? You shake it off. We know exactly where to find you: walking in circles between West Street and Division Street, entering every vintage clothing store you pass. You insist you need a new, cool wardrobe; you live in a city now, after all.

Reputation – the drama magnet

It’s a Monday lunchtime, and you’ve already texted your best mate from home saying, ‘I did something bad!’ and ‘My flat is full of snakes.’ You’re always bored and doing things for the plot but seem trustworthy enough that everyone on your course tells you their gossip. Just like Taylor in her Reputation era, you’re no stranger to rumours and whispers. So it goes – you’re always getting into drama, and you’re the person everyone loves to hate. At least you have a small but strong group of friends who will always have your back. You’re unapologetically bold. Besides, not everything has to be delicate. You brush it off, perform an Instagram blackout, and wait for the next scandal to take hold (it won’t be long).

Lover – the obsessed with their boyfriend

Forget reading lists and deadlines; you have one thing on your mind: Paper rings. You miss your boyfriend so much it’s like death by a thousand cuts. How will you manage the 30-minute distance from Donny to Sheff? Your Instagram is dedicated to your relationship, filled with captions like “Can I go where you go?” and you cancel plans at the last minute because he got off work early and can call you for the fifth night in a row. Please, do everyone a favour and stop talking about your boyfriend every five minutes. We’re tired of hearing about the man, but at least one of us is in their Lover era. While you should be making notes in lectures, you’re doodling hearts and thinking about the dog you and your boyfriend will adopt the moment you graduate, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Folklore – the mysterious poet

You’re the 1 who rocks to class in a cardigan and sits at the back, scribbling in a little notebook. Nothing you’re writing is of any substance; it’s all about seeming mysterious. You probably study English, Creative Writing or History, and you dream about abandoning your assignments and running away to the lakes for some peace. Your social media accounts are either non-existent or super cryptic, and you constantly speak in metaphors, which keeps people guessing. You might think you seem cool and intelligent, but everyone thinks you’re a mad woman. This is me trying? More like this is me thriving. Despite your whimsical attitude, you get firsts in all your assignments, a scholarship, and all the accolades you possibly can – and you deserve them.

Evermore – the forgotten one

Long story short, no one came to your birthday party. Even your family forgot now that you’re out of the house. Your course group chat is pinging with everyone talking about their results for the last assignment, but you never got one; your lecturer forgot to mark yours. But you tolerate it and accept your fate, you will be forgotten for evermore (just not by us). You often blend into the background, letting others take the spotlight. You have a lot to say but are overlooked in group projects and conversations, and unfortunately, people forget to check in on you through grey November. Even so, don’t worry because you have those around you who support you, but just like you – quietly.

Midnights – the third year fresher

The first two years were a lavender haze of excitement and regrets, but you’ve been in the game for a while now, and yet, come September, you’ll still be out with the Freshers’ wristband on. Don’t you have a dissertation to plan? Yes, but you’ve come up with sweet nothing. You still love getting bejewelled and hitting West Street every weekend, but karma will soon catch up to you. That clock is ticking faster and faster, and soon, it’ll be July. The great war (your degree) is over, and you would’ve, could’ve, should’ve left your party days behind you sooner. Or, just like Midnights, maybe you’ll stay up ’til dawn and pull out a 3am edition, surprising us all. I know that you’re a mastermind.

The Tortured Poets Department – the planner

You’ve already finished your projects and started your essays before most people know their chosen topic, but you can’t help it. Everyone else is so high school. All your notes are colour – coded, and while those colours may be grey and beige, everything is planned well in advance, with backup plans for backup plans. You ask yourself: Who’s afraid of little old me? Literally, everyone on your course. But it’s too bad. You want to enjoy Christmas and New Year without having to spend it hunched over a laptop for hours and stuffing your face with leftover Celebrations. Does that make you guilty as sin? I don’t think so (but that’s because I’m also a planner). So I know you’ve been scouring the internet looking for summer internships, and if in third year, graduate jobs, because when you’re fresh out the slammer, best believe you’ll have planned for it.

Featured images via @tstourtips_ on Instagram