Critical Karaoke

Samuel Juarez-Solis

Band name: Queen

Song name: ‘We Are the Champions’

Album: News of the World

Song length: 2:59

We are the Champions is the battle song that crystallizes my victories. It reminds me of the mental sacrifice I’ve made to become the first one in my family to graduate from a university. And oh, I have made a lot of mistakes and had to contend with feelings of sadness and self-doubt. But regardless of how sad I felt, when it came time for an exam I put aside my feelings and put on my game face so that I could walk out of the exam room a champion.

We are the champions is the mantra that allowed my friends and I to fight through physics scenarios, organic chemistry reactions, and biochemistry pathways so that we could get the coveted grades that we wanted. But more than the grades we obtained an enormous sense of pride and trust, as if we had just climbed Mount Everest together. This song let’s my friends and I know that we are not losers. It communicates that we are the champions that will help solve the science and political problems that plague our world.

I’d be a selfish fool if I didn’t acknowledge the many advisors, friends, and family who helped me achieve this biology degree. So here’s a big thanks to the countless people who approved of my shenanigans and allowed me to gain this exquisite treasure.

But, it hasn’t been a bed of roses and I’ve had the unfortunate task of dealing with suicidal thoughts. Thankfully, I’ve come to accept my flaws and see the beauty within myself so that in any future challenge I’m not gonna lose!

Yes friends and family I’m alive and maintaining my happiness and peaceful state of mind. And I want us all to keep fighting to become better humans and obtain arduous victories to let our ancestors know that we are the glorious champions we were born to become. Yes Freddie, we are the champions that unite and overcome our physical and mental limits to make this world a better place for the future. I will not go to my grave a loser and will make sure things get better for my family, friends, and communities.

Of course i’ll continue to fail many times in my life but i’ll obtain some victories that will make life worth living and this song will commemorate them. Victories come in a variety of flavors from grand to modest. And honestly, one of my greatest triumphs is a modest one which is just staying alive. So watch out world because I won’t be fading away and I will accomplish more victories. Yes, the sacrifice of time and mentality was worth it to graduate from the University of Washington and I will die a proud champion of the world!