Never in my ‘Wildest Dreams’ would I expect to be sitting in the Caesars Superdome on Oct. 27. Driving eight hours to see my biggest inspiration and music artist ever, Taylor Swift, felt surreal. Some might say I was out of my mind for traveling 13 hours in one weekend just to see a singer perform, but I was about to experience an unforgettable showcase of every era of her career.

From the moment I discovered “Mean,” I was drawn into the enchanting world of Taylor’s music. I wasn’t always a diehard fan; in fact, I used to think her music was a bit basic. That all changed in the summer of ‘22 when I was immersed in Taylor’s songs at sleepaway camp, thanks to my counselor’s unwavering love for her.

From that moment on, Taylor’s music filled my life, constantly blasting from my speaker. As my love for her music grew, so did my family’s, since they were often in the same room as me when I listened to her. My parents knew how much I wanted to go to the Eras Tour in Houston. However, due to the abnormally high price of the tickets, they informed me that going to the concert would not be possible. Though I felt a small hint of defeat, I never gave up on my dream of seeing Taylor Swift perform. I was so desperate that I even wrote her a letter, expressing my love for her music and how much it would mean to attend her concert. Unfortunately, I never heard back.

As the years passed, my dream of seeing Taylor Swift perform in person began to fade. Still, I held on to a sliver of hope, refusing to listen to the setlist so if I ever did make it to her concert, the experience would be a complete surprise.

One day, my mom asked me to come speak with her and my dad. For a brief moment, I thought I was in trouble since I didn’t usually get called into their room. Little did I know the incredible surprise that awaited me when I sat down.

“We have a crazy idea for a Hanukkah present for you,” my mom said. At this point, I still had no clue what was about to come. “What do you think about going to see Taylor Swift in New Orleans 2 weeks from now?”

My face lit up in disbelief. I was completely shocked, and my head instantly filled with questions. How would we get there? Where would we stay? My parents had clearly thought this through. My mom and I would drive to New Orleans the day of the concert and stay with a family friend who lived there before driving back the next morning.
Then, they proposed another option: since the New Orleans trip might be too much for one weekend, they suggested I attend Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short N Sweet’ tour in Houston instead. With all of these possibilities on the table, I needed a moment to process everything. Ultimately, I chose The Eras Tour since I had been dreaming of it for years, even though sacrificing the chance to see Sabrina Carpenter was a hard choice to make.
After hearing the incredible news, I felt like I was in a ‘State of Grace’ for days. The thought of being at The Eras Tour was pure magic, filling me with excitement every time it crossed my mind.

My first goal was to plan the perfect concert outfit. The Eras Tour is known for its display of amazing ‘Style,’ with concertgoers ‘Bejeweled’ in sequins and glitter galore. I settled on a black sequin skirt and black halter top to embody the ‘Reputation’ era. My mom and I worked to make friendship bracelets to trade at the stadium, a tradition evolved by fellow Swifties. With everything ready, the only thing left to do was wait — easily the hardest part. I set a countdown on my phone, eagerly anticipating the day we’d finally leave.

At last, the day arrived. With our bags packed and the car decked out in Taylor Swift songs on the side windows, my mom and I set off for New Orleans. But not even 30 minutes into the trip, we hit the worst traffic I’d ever seen, setting us back an hour and a half. Though we were irritated with the slow-moving roads, we made it past the rough spot and had a smoother trip the rest of the way.
Eight hours later, we arrived at our family friend’s house just 30 minutes before we needed to leave for the stadium. We rushed to get dressed and quickly grabbed whatever food we could before our Uber arrived. Fortunately, we got to the stadium with plenty of time to trade bracelets and find our seats.
The lights in the stadium dimmed, and musician Gracie Abrams took the stage. Watching her perform live was unforgettable, and I found myself becoming a fan right then and there, adding to the growing excitement for Taylor Swift. After Abrams’s set, a two-minute countdown clock appeared on the big screen behind the stage. My mom and I squeezed each other’s hands, brimming with anticipation as we waited for Taylor’s arrival. When the clock finally hit 0:00, the stadium erupted in a wave of electrifying noise. The moment I spotted Taylor Swift was pure magic: this was the moment I had dreamed of for years. As she stepped onto the stage, I was overwhelmed with awe and excitement, knowing I was finally here, witnessing the artist who had shaped so much of my life and filled it with music and meaning.

For the next three hours, I was filled with more adrenaline than I’d ever felt. The energy in the stadium was electric, each song stirring up a wave of emotions. Just when I thought the night couldn’t get any better, Taylor surprised her fans by singing one of Sabrina Carpenter’s songs during her acoustic set, and proceeded to call her on the phone. On the call, she playfully asked Carpenter how long it would take her to get dressed and come to sing at the stadium with her. Moments later Carpenter arrived out of the bottom of the stage and the crowd erupted as the two of them prepared to sing together.

Soon after Carpenter arrived on stage, she and Swift began singing a mashup of some of her greatest hits: “Please, Please, Please x Espresso” with Swift’s “Is It Over Now?”. In that moment, I was completely overwhelmed with joy and disbelief — it felt like a dream come true; all three of my favorite singers in one night. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be part of such an incredible experience.

As the concert came to a close, I felt both fulfilled and a bit empty, knowing this was the end of the moment I’d been dreaming of for years. The anticipation, the energy and the connection with the crowd had been everything I imagined and more. As I stood there wishing the night would never end, I also knew it was a perfect end to an unforgettable night. Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the experience, knowing it will be a memory I’ll treasure forever.