In this solo date vlog, I take you with me from the very first things first moment (yes… the hair) into a full get-ready-with-me, outfit switch, and a cozy solo brunch before I head to see Wicked: Part One. But this isn’t a surface-level movie review. I’m using Elphaba’s story as a mirror for what it can feel like to be a Black woman in STEM—especially in grad school—where you can be doing your best work and still be treated like the problem. I break down the “Elphaba archetype” in higher education: the outsider trope, the politics of Oz (aka academia), and how perception can get weaponized against high-achieving women. I also talk about “Glinda dynamics”—performative allyship, image management, and what it’s like navigating relationships where support can feel conditional. My biggest takeaway is that “Defying Gravity” isn’t just a song; it’s a strategy. If you’ve ever felt behind, disconnected, or like the villain in your own story, I want this video to help you name what’s happening—and choose your voice anyway.