I’ll be honest: I knew nothing about the plot of Wicked until last summer. As a kid I was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz, which naturally led me to Wicked. My knowledge of Wicked was extremely limited. I only knew it was a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and I had only heard a clip of Kristin Chenoweth's version of "Popular", and "Defying Gravity". As a child, I just wanted to see it because it was based on the movie and books I adored. Last summer though my aunt bought my family and me tickets to see it. It turned into a bit of a girl's trip since it was just the women in my family who went. I’m glad I knew nothing about it beforehand because it made the experience feel more magical. It was so funny, and engaging, and those costumes and sets (Glinda's Bubble was amazing)–I was hooked. I love the character of Glinda as she’s probably the most complex character in Wicked. I might be biased though because my favorite color is pink. She’s a ditzy mean girl, a trope I love, but she also cares deeply about her true friends like Elphaba. I am also fascinated by the beautiful tragedy of her character since by the end she’s lost both Fiyero and Elphaba, the only people she truly cared about. She's respected and looked up to now, but she's lonely and heartbroken. The moment that stands out to me is how she beautifully sings at the beginning during "No One Mourns the Wicked.” That high-pitched, opera-like notes, make it sound like she's crying, and in a way she is. She has to keep a brave face while everyone celebrates her best friend's death. This sadness resonates with me on a personal level. I relate to Glinda's struggle to live up to everyone's expectations and image of her. For Glinda, it's being the “Good Witch” and for me, it's being a “perfect student”. I also connect to her sadness because although I'm not mourning the loss of anyone, I am going through an emotionally and mentally trying time in my life with everything that comes with senior year, and some more personal issues like loneliness. When Glinda's having that breakdown during, "No One Mourns the Wicked", no one notices the sad tone in her singing. I, too, feel like I'm drowning in my sadness sometimes, and yet nobody around me notices or understands (as nobody will understand her friendship with Elphaba). I appreciate that while Wicked overall is fun and campy, it also dives into darker tones, and tragic themes, like with Glinda. I also admire how Wicked subverts many stereotypes that were prevalent in the 90s and 2000s coming-of-age movies. Particularly the common trope where the “mean girl” and “shy/new girl” hate each other and fight over a boy. I mean they still do (initially) hate each other and fight over a boy, but they eventually grow a deep friendship. Though society pitted them against each other, they did rise above it and became best friends. This layered portrayal of female friendship is one of the reasons why I love Wicked.

I am pursuing a career in fine/studio art because, simply put, I enjoy creating art. It’s not just a hobby for me—it's a way of expressing myself and my hundreds of ideas, and it gives me joy and fulfillment to create. What fascinates me just as much and is the second reason I want to have an art career is the wonderful way art affects and connects with people. It allows people to bond in a way that goes beyond words. I’ve created art my whole life, from making crafts, messy paintings, scribbled homemade cards, and crumbling scotch tape-filled doll houses. Yes, I have a bunch of cute but awful collections of artwork from my childhood, like many people. Art was always something I liked, until 2022 when I took my first high school-level art class and fell head over heels in love with it. I used to get excited over every new assignment for the opportunity to create. I remember making this cherry blossom tree painting and getting lost in the brushstrokes, feeling the process. However, this was an art history class so we didn’t always do art every class, we did a lot of reading and writing, and I didn’t mind that, but the whole time I was yearning to get back to creating something. That summer I stepped out of my comfort zone and took an art class. It was a small step, it was only for three days, but it was a big step for me since I'd never done anything like that before. My art is deeply personal so sharing it is a nerve-racking thing to do. My art is a part of myself on a canvas (or whatever art medium) and difficult for anyone, but I think that’s what makes art so remarkable and is why I want to have a career in it. It's a vulnerable but beautiful thing where people put so much of their feelings, thoughts, and effort into creating something, and people are just able to relate or feel connected to it or interpret it in a whole new way. That emotional connection is just something that excites me with art, it brings out the best in the artists (like myself), and the viewers by pulling emotions from them. The ability to create something and have it resonate is a magical experience, one that I want to explore throughout a future career in the fine arts along with improving my skills so I can better articulate my ideas. Touching back on that painting, the cherry blossoms, it wasn’t the best despite my memories attached to it but it’s only pushed me to get better. I’ve learned so many new techniques, like skin color, and blending within the past few years, and my art has evolved. My self-portrait from April to November (this year) has an embarrassing amount of difference in quality. I’m not highly skilled, and my portfolio is very bare, but I’m determined to grow and become the best artist I can be.

Creativity is multilayered. It's not just making something cool or pretty---it's about creating something that has a deeper meaning. True creativity comes from artists pulling from their personal lives and focusing on emotions rather than strict realism. The piece I attached is about an experience I had earlier this year. It was the last day before February break, and it had recently snowed. I went out in my backyard and just enjoyed it. I laid in the snow, looked up at the sky, and listened to music for an hour. It was magical, and peaceful. That had been a stressful time in my life, and this was finally an opportunity for me to slow down and just enjoy the simple things in life. While this isn't the grandest story, what elevates piece is how I channeled these emotions into it. I tapped into the feelings of whimsy and serenity in that moment, which led me to think creatively. Instead of just using acrylic paint I experimented by using stickers, cotton balls, and glitter to really bring it to life. Personal experiences and emotions enhance the creativity of a piece but overall makes it more meaningful and compelling.