I am a fan of Wicked because of the problematic issues it addresses surrounding racism, sexism, and corruption. Using the metaphor of animals to represent these differences is really representative of how biased our world is. The fact that we have to represent these differences using animals and green skin to make people truly understand how it is to be discriminated against is ridiculous. We see this discrimination almost every day and yet we have to watch an exaggerated movie to understand. That said, I believe that the way the writers represented these differences was very realistic and alike to the experience's minorities feel every day. Another component of the movie that I enjoyed was Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship. Glinda at first viewed Elphaba like everyone else, but eventually she learned that her and Elphaba really weren’t that different. It showed that just because everyone says the same thing, it does not make it true. The ending to the second movie hurt, but it expressed the importance of sacrifice and stepping up when no one else will. Glinda will continue to implement change, but one could argue that it never would have happened without Elphaba. Glinda grew up sheltered and Elphaba managed to finally open her eyes to corruption so that Glinda could make real change rather than acting as a bystander to what seems to be ethically questionable, but in reality, is much more dangerous.

Hi, my name is Natalie Lake. I go to Mark Twin High School, and I am currently a senior. My hobbies are Color guard/Winter guard, gardening, reading, movies, cooking, and baking. I have always loved calming hobbies. My favorite kind of music is anything lyrical and sad. Upbeat music is usually my go-to, but sad, slow, instrumental music is what makes me actually feel something. My favorite Christmas song is White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes, and my favorite regular song is Tears of Gold by Fouzia. I first heard this song to a Winter guard performance at a competition I went to. It was their first performance of the year, and it was a dedication to one of the performers who had died recently. While watching I felt their grief. https://youtu.be/xDFkqonDPUs?si=jvWicuvoBWPVgUHd (In case you would like to watch, it really is a good show). When I saw them perform, they weren't perfect, but you could feel what they felt. They had a hug under a toss, when I saw it, you could see that the girl that was hugging him was broken. She smacked into him gripping for her life, almost knocking him back. I have never forgotten that show. It showed me how art can express grief, and how this sport is more than just a showcase of high school students. Winter Guard has a special place in my heart, and I plan to continue at the University of Missouri - Columbia. My favorite movie is "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes. This is yet another tearjerker. This movie expresses what free will truly is. Being trusted to know what is best for you and supporting others doing what is best for them. I hated the ending, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I won't spoil it for you, because everyone deserves to watch this movie for the first time, but I do hope you watch it. Most of my community service experience comes from my position in the Nels Joesting Chapter of the National Honor Society. Through the National Honor Society, I have: Worked at food pantries, worked at blood drives, and worked concessions at youth tournaments. I plan to pay for college through scholarships and the work that I do over the summer. I will not be receiving financial assistance from my parents for my schooling, and I do not qualify for much in student loans. I want to become a cosmetic surgeon, and I believe that the best way to become a surgeon is to go through the University of Missouri. I firmly believe in the University of Missouri’s hands-on teaching methods and would like to attend the University of Missouri School of Medicine once I have graduated with my four-year bachelor's degree. I will get a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. I will take the MCAT and apply to the University of Missouri School of Medicine.