As a child, the brain acts as a shield, protecting kids from the world's puncturing knives until reality finally pierces through. For me, that shift began prematurely at five years old, when a heart attack stole my grandfather away from me, a victim due to a genetic predisposition to cardiac disease. Suddenly, the man who unconditionally provided warm hugs and endless high-fives was gone. Even the five-dollar bills he used to slip me became symbols of grief; the number five was not just a digit, but the age when my world first broke. Growing up, I held on to the sentiment that life gets better and that this chapter of my life was closed. At the age of fifteen, new revelations came, and my naivety showcased how just the chapter was never truly closed. It was almost humorous how tragedy appeared in fives. Unordinarily, I was called to the office during U.S. History, ironically, signaling that history would indeed repeat itself. As my sneakers squeaked against the polished floor, intuitively, I felt amiss, my chest cold. Walking into the office, the assistants' friendly greetings were laced with pity and sympathy, making the rapid thumping of my heart beat even faster. I waited for what felt like hours, the time whispering looming sorrow, it was a dreadful silence of only deep breaths. As my mother arrived, she looked eerily calm. Very lightly, she told me that my father had a heart attack, mirroring the one his father succumbed to; there was a heavy weight of uncertainty. Although he was stable, he required life-saving surgery. It is hard to describe witnessing your loved one, your father, clinging to life, and the sobs wracking my body. Seeing him depending on the machine to breathe broke something inside of me; here I was experiencing this same pain heart disease caused again. Together, we cried and prayed, terrified that this would be his final goodbye. In the midst of drowning in anguish, and the crushing weight of desperation I thought I had outrun, a relative spewed some of the most agonizing remarks towards me, "This is all your fault." As a fifteen-year-old girl, a part of me knew that my parents' divorce and problems were beyond my control, but that did not make the accusations hurt any less. And for a while, even after my father's successful procedure, deep down, I started to believe that there could be truth in that statement. For months, as he took his time healing, his real scars started healing, while my invisible scars started to rip open. Confusion, pain, and guilt played on repeat in the emptiness of my mind; the damage manifested itself. This bubbly and happy girl, whom my friends and family once knew, was lost. For months, I cried myself to sleep, unknowingly to anyone. Until my mother noticed the hurt plaguing me for months, reassuring me that what happened was pure fate, and that their problems did not involve me. Moreover, it gave me the strength to start rebuilding myself and begin the path to self-forgiveness. As I navigate my third semester of college, I realize I cannot silence the past through perfection. To truly honor my dad's perseverance, first I have to reclaim my own. Somehow, I found the resolve to make the best of life, dedicating myself to my studies and relishing in all life has to offer me. Not to live in guilt, but rather in honor and appreciation. By reclaiming my strength and solidifying my purpose, I ensure that my parents' sacrifices and my own survival were not in vain.

The movie not only showcases significant lessons, but it does this through a medium of carefully crafted cinematography, acting, story writing, and soundtrack. Choosing Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the leads of this perfectly composed musical, was a great choice, their exquisite melding voices gave the movie its body and soul. In short, their acting and voice tied the knot between the original Broadway show and a commercial film. Furthermore, the filmmakers express this through various colorful, joyful, and emotional scenes throughout the two-hour course run. Giving the movie a place of its own, emerging from the bounds, and making it into something bigger and captivating, that will stick with me. Wicked demonstrates a beautiful cinematic representation of finding your path in life, although you may have to go against the majority. Holding on to your morals, and what you know is right, even though others may not feel the same. Throughout the story, Elphaba is excluded from others because of her green skin, which is completely out of her control. Furthermore, her relationships and experiences with Galinda, showed her how to truly love herself and be comfortable in the person she is. Thus, acknowledging that her green skin does not define who she is but rather just a part of her. If she can put her mind to something, her mind, aspirations, and power are "limitless". Standing up for the rights of animals and calling out the wrongful use of magic commemorating her individuality and challenging common standard beliefs. This was especially showcased in the song, "Defying Gravity', where Elphaba realizes the unlimited power of her magic, and herself. Overall, this movie encompasses many important moral issues and the importance of loving who you are. Therefore, pursuing the truth of who you are and the truth of your place in the world inspires me, to hold these values and stay true to myself despite what others say. Not to mention, Wiked, even though set in the mystical and fantasy world, of Land of Oz, illustrates that anyone can make a difference in the world regardless of where they come from. Elphaba realizes that she needed to make a chance to defy, the "Great Wizard of Oz", to save the animals from discrimination. I am a fan of Wicked because it is a tale that resonates with the spirit of passion and perseverance. Similarly, to Elphaba, I desire to use my college education to help create a better life for the unfortunate. Growing up in a small, southern, low income in South Georgia, was not particularly easy, and not the background that most people would expect to make change. Despite the challenges, I can accomplish my goal, of helping in the field of biomedical science to discover solutions to various diseases. This overall theme of courage, understanding one another differences, and going against the grain, is something I profoundly respect and appreciate. Your background, identity, or power should not decide whether or not you have the right to help others. All that matters, is that you have faith, passion, and the perseverance to make it happen. And, that everyone truly does "deserve the chance to fly".