Unlimited

Unlimited. My future is unlimited.
And I've just had a vision almost like a prophecy
I know it sounds truly crazy
And true the vision's hazy
But I swear, someday there'll be
A celebration throughout Oz that's all to do with me!
-Elphaba, Wicked 

In the musical Wicked, Elphaba sings that her future is "unlimited." She has so much potential, and all she wants to do is good for the citizens of Oz. She has ambitions, she wants to do good. Now, of course, anyone who has seen the musical knows that this doesn't exactly work out like she plans. But it is the concept of having an "unlimited" future that I would like to focus on today.

The possibilities for my life, or for anyone's life for that matter, are endless. Each decision we make changes the path of our life just a little bit. For example, I chose Ashland over Mount Union when I was college searching. While it seemed like such a small decision at the time...Ashland led me to joining Phi Mu, which then led me to the world of student affairs, which led me to Kent State, which led me to residence life and finding a career I love. All from one decision I made in April of my senior year of high school. Had I chosen Mount Union, my life would be different.

Having infinite possibilities at our fingertips is something we take for granted. We make decisions each day, whether it's as simple as what to eat for breakfast, or as complicated as choosing which job to accept. We make the decision, sometimes too lightly, not thinking about what our lives could have been had we chosen the other path. Elphaba has unlimited possibilities. When given the choice between staying with The Wizard, who offers her the fame and acceptance she has always craved, or choosing to leave because the Animals are being enslaved by The Wizard and forsaking the acceptance she's always dreamed of, she follows her heart and leaves.

Unlimited, together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team there's ever been
Dreams the way we planned 'em
If we work in tandem
There's no fight you and I cannot win.
-Elphaba and Glinda, Wicked

Continuing the theme of being "Unlimited," Elphaba asks Glinda, her best friend, to join her. The possibilities on her own were endless already, but with Glinda at her side, nothing could stop either of them from achieving what they've always hoped and dreamed. But unfortunately for the two witches, their paths are drastically different. Elphaba chooses to leave and fight The Wizard while Glinda chooses to stay behind, not able to follow Elphaba.

I feel that we, as human beings, can take a lesson from the choices that Elphaba and Glinda make in this scene. They care for each other like sisters, yet they choose drastically different paths. Would Elphaba been happier if Glinda came with her? Yes. Would Glinda have been happier if Elphaba stayed? Yes. But in either of those situations, the other would be upset and feel as if they were being held down by their counterpart. They wouldn't get what they truly wanted. Taking the feelings of your friends and loved ones into consideration is a good thing to do, I'm not discrediting that. However, sometimes you need to look at your own feelings too. When I chose to come to Kent, there were some people in my life who wanted to me to do other things with my life...get a job, move away from home...you name it. But instead I did what would make ME the happiest, realizing that those who were meant to stay in my life would stay, simply because they cared enough.

Elphaba and Glinda wish each other farewell and hope that the other will be happy with what they have chosen. And anyone who has seen the second act of the musical knows what happens to their friendship in the second act, but to avoid further spoilers, I'll stop my analysis of the musical here.

The concept of having "unlimited" choices is something to truly take into consideration. There are many different paths we can take, many different choices we can make. Everything in life boils down to making a choice...it is the choice that we make that decides our future...but don't feel as if you're bound to make one particular choice.

After all, your future is unlimited.