As the start of the semester approaches, you might feel a mix of emotions—excited, nervous or even overwhelmed. That’s perfectly normal. After all, each semester feels like stepping into a whole new world (or maybe a whole new Oz). The good news? (See what I did there? Heh.) The songs from Wicked: Part One are full of lessons to help you navigate the challenges ahead. Whether you’re a G(a)linda or an Elphaba at heart, there’s something here to help you start strong.
“No One Mourns the Wicked”
“Good news! She’s dead!”
This song sets the tone for a clean slate. Sure, it’s a little dramatic, but the message is clear: leave the past behind. Whether you’re coming off a tough semester or just didn’t quite hit your goals, let it go (cue Elsa) and focus on what’s next.
Takeaway: A new semester is a fresh start. Use lessons from the past to shape your path forward, not hold you back.
Listen on Spotify: No One Mourns the Wicked
“The Wizard and I”
“When I meet the Wizard…all my dreams will come true.”
This is all about ambition and the belief that great things are possible. Think about what you want to accomplish this semester—academically, personally or even professionally. Then, create a plan to work toward those goals. Dreams are wonderful, but action turns them into reality.
Takeaway: Define your goals early and revisit them often. Big or small, they’ll keep you motivated.
Listen on Spotify: The Wizard and I
“What Is This Feeling?”
“Loathing…unadulterated loathing.”
Let’s be honest. There will be moments when you feel this—whether it’s aimed at group projects, overly packed schedules or that one classmate who always shows up unprepared. Instead of letting those moments derail you, use them as opportunities to grow your patience (and maybe your sense of humor).
Takeaway: Frustration is inevitable. How you handle it is what matters most.
Listen on Spotify: What Is This Feeling?
“Dancing Through Life”
“Dancing through life, skimming the surface, gliding where turf is smooth.”
This song reminds us to find balance. Sure, school is important, but so is self-care. Whether it’s grabbing coffee with friends or binge-watching your favorite show, don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Life’s not only about deadlines and grades.
Takeaway: Balance is the key to thriving this semester. Plan your time and leave space for fun.
Listen on Spotify: Dancing Through Life
“Popular”
“I’ll help you be popular!”
Networking might not involve a makeover montage, but it’s still one of the most important skills you can develop. Building relationships with classmates, professors and mentors can open doors you haven’t even thought of yet.
Takeaway: Take time to connect—whether it’s saying “hi” after class, sending an email to a professor or participating in group discussions.
Listen on Spotify: Popular
“I’m Not That Girl”
“Don’t dream too far; don’t lose sight of who you are.”
This one is a reality check for those of us prone to overcommitting. (This is one of my major struggles.) Yes, it’s great to aim high, but be realistic about what you can achieve. Perfection isn’t required, and burnout isn’t worth it.
Takeaway: Be kind to yourself. Success looks different for everyone, so focus on what works for you.
Listen on Spotify: I’m Not That Girl
“Defying Gravity”
“It’s time to try defying gravity.”
Is this the ultimate empowerment anthem, or what? This song is your reminder that you’re capable of more than you think. Take the leap, whether that means applying for an internship, volunteering to lead a project or simply stepping out of your comfort zone.
Takeaway: Don’t let fear hold you back. Your biggest growth happens when you take risks.
Listen on Spotify: Defying Gravity
Wrapping Up
Starting a new semester can feel overwhelming, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to grow, learn and create connections. Like the characters in Wicked, you’ll face challenges, but you’ll also have moments of triumph that make the effort worthwhile.
And here’s a question for you
What’s one thing you’re hoping to achieve this semester? Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your goals and cheer you on.
NOTES
The framework of this article was inspired by ChatGPT.
“Wicked” has always, and forever will be my most favorite musical! It was the first broadway show I was exposed to and what ultimately began my love for musicals. How fitting is it that the first musical I watched and fell in love with, is connected to my first Public Relations class I will be exposed to and will surely spark my passion for the career. I am so excited to begin and grow through this course!
I havent seen Wicked yet, but I have heard a lot of the songs and love what you wrote! This semester I am excited for a fresh start! I recently switched into a new major and have made some great changes in my personal life. I am excited to make the most of the semester and see where I end up!
I LOVE Wicked (I am a musical theater major after all) and I love how you connected it to the semester and our goals! This semester, I hope to take intentional time to do the things that are most important. I also hope to take a page out of “Dancing Through Life” and embrace spontaneity and remember to have fun!
This semester I’m hoping to get a better grip on time management and completing my assignments long before they are due! Also, I absolutely loved how you tied the lessons from Wicked to the start of the semester—it made the advice feel so much more relatable and fun! The connections you made, like finding balance with “Dancing Through Life” and taking risks with “Defying Gravity”, gave me a new outlook on setting clear goals and embracing the challenges.
This semester, I am hoping to gain more confidence in my writing so I can be better prepared in real-life scenario to use the skills! Also, I LOVE Wicked! It is the only show I have ever seen on Broadway and I have seen the movie 5 times already!
Not only do I love Wicked, but I also love how relevant these lessons are to starting a new semester! I really appreciate it when educators make an effort to be up to date on pop culture. I am looking forward to starting class!
I loved the way this blog showed so many connections and really broke down a lot of the songs. I love wicked right now so this was really fun to read! I am very excited to learn lots through this class!
I’ve had the Wicked playlist on repeat in my car since I watched the movie in theaters (3 times), and I’m so glad I can add a new meaning to the songs that relates to this semester! I’m going to show this to my sister who loves these songs as much as I do! This semester I will face challenges, but my goal is to make good grades and be efficient with my classwork!!
I still haven’t seen “Wicked” yet, but I am obsessed with the soundtrack! I love all the comparisons! I am really hoping to find a better social vs. academic balance this semester. I can’t wait to learn everything there is to know PR with you!
I have been to the movie theater to watch “Wicked” four times. I believe it is safe to say that I absolutely adore this film. I loved how you were able to connect the film with a real-world situation. As I prepare myself for this upcoming semester, I hope to use what I have learned from this article to have the utmost success in the weeks to come.
I loved this correlation between the hit movie Wicked and our current circumstances. I loved this movie and connected with all of the characters! I really resonated with your section on “Dancing Through Life.” My motto in life is “Never take something so seriously that you lose joy in life.” Movies and shows can often depict important life lessons, and Wicked is no exception! I can’t wait to learn about this more in the upcoming semester!
I just watched Wicked for the first time and loved it! This blog was full of great reminders as we enter the new semester. Something I hope to achieve this semester is balance. I overloaded myself a bit last semester and am hoping to still aim high while living at a sustainable pace of life.
I am currently obsessed with “Wicked.” This blog post has given me a new outlook on starting this semester (and a reason to listen to the soundtrack again). I am looking forward to learning more about PR in this class!!
A new semester is a fresh start and with that comes a new mindset and the urge to set new goals! I will sit down and plan out some short term and long term goals to be able to implement into this upcoming semester! Excited for this creative class!
Your post has truly made me so excited to continue with this course. I love how you connected this soundtrack with everyday life and revealed that even a form of art such as a play (and movie) can teach us to grow, create, and form connections. Looking forward to this semester!
This was the cutest thing to read! One thing I hope to cover this semester is an understanding of what Public Relations looks like in the working world and I hope to find enjoyment in it.
This was one of the most fun blog posts I’ve ever read, so thank you! I am excited for this class because it is the first major-related class I have taken. One goal I have for this semester is to increase my creativity inside and outside of the classroom.
I love this! The Wicked soundtrack is so good. I like what you said under “What is this feeling”. I agree we should not let the minor things in life, and what other people do affect us. I can’t wait for this semester!
One thing I’m hoping to achieve this semester is getting a general understanding of public relations and how it plays a role in everyday lives!
I’m looking forward to learning more about public relations. It has always been something that I am interested in and I don’t know a lot about it, so I’m excited for this semester!
I loved how you connected the songs to personal emotions/challenges! One thing I hope to gain this semester is a balance in my schedule and improving my writing skills.
One thing I am aiming to achieve this semester is learning a good balance for myself with my school work, hanging out with friends, and hobbies I like to do. Just like the song “Dancing Through Life” says, which is a great perspective to see it from!
I love this! I love the wicked soundtrack and definitely agree that we should prioritize finding a balance with school and self-care time. My goal is to focus on that this semester!
I completely agree with your input about the song “What is this feeling?” You can’t change what people do, but what matters is your reaction! Loved this post and the movie too 🙂
I love this! I have been obsessed with the Wicked soundtrack so seeing how you’ve fit it into real life is so cool! This semester my goal is to strengthen my new relationships with college friends and to make time for myself to slow down. I’m looking forward to this semester!
I am looking forward to gaining more confidence in my writing and growing new connections with classmates!
Something I am hoping to achieve this semester is being kind to myself in times of challenges in order to find the best solution. I am looking forward to enhancing my writing skills and learning more about how to make organization Popular!!!
I loved how you related the importances of networking yourself to the song “Popular” from Wicked! I am excited to learn more about connecting with my peers and the PR world throughout the semester!
This is so timely and relevant to what’s hot with pop culture right now. Loved it! I can definitely learn a thing or two from “Dancing Through Life.” Sometimes, I let work take over my life and that’s not good news (lol).
As someone who loves to go all in on everything I do, the reminder that “balance is the key to thriving this semester” is definitely something I need to keep in mind. That being said, as I graduate in May, my goal for this semester is simple: finish strong.
This is such a fun way to shift your mindset going into a brand new semester! I’m so excited to learn from you, and I hope to work more on not being afraid to implement my own creativity in this class!
What a great way to find the applicable hidden gems of advice from pop culture- thank you for sharing! I am excited to sharpen my public relations writing skills in new and different ways through this class. Looking forward to a wicked last semester! 😉
I can’t wait to show this to my family members who refuse to watch “Wicked.” This musical is so much relevant in my life and in society! I can’t wait to learn more about the PR world in this class. Looking forward to next week!!
I really loved how you connected “Wicked” to relatable content I hope to cover this semester! I can’t wait to start this class next week!