"You sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve."
-Ginny Weasley
Last month marked the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular series in the world, Harry Potter. As a die-hard Potterhead I have been thinking for the last month of the best way to commemorate my love for the amazing wizarding world that J.K. Rowling created. I decided that the best way to do that would be to show some of the lessons I learned from Harry and his friends.
Harry Potter is a worldwide phenomenon, having sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final volume of the Harry Potter series, became the fastest-selling book in history. More than 11 million copies were sold during the first 24 hours. I account for 4 out of that 11 million copies, for my whole family is deeply enraptured in the Harry Potter world and we could not wait to read it.
Without Harry Potter, I do not think I would be where I am today. It’s funny how a book can take you to a whole other universe, especially when you need it most. J.K. Rowling gave me an escape from the real world when I needed it most and has stuck with me throughout my life. I feel like some of the most important life lessons I’ve learned have come from the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
1. Hermione taught me to stand up for what is right, to never dumb myself down for another, to fight for what is good, and for those who are oppressed and can’t fight for themselves.
Without a doubt, Hermione Granger is the fictional female character I look up to most. She was never ashamed to be herself, no matter what her friends thought or said. Just like Hermione, my nose has always been buried deep in a book and all you could see of my head was my frizzy brown mop of hair sticking every which way. While I may not have been a “half-blood” such as Hermione, I was homeschooled for five years of my life, so walking into public school for the first time felt like walking into the wizarding world for the first time.
Thinking of Hermione gave me strength. She was never afraid to be herself. She was never afraid to pursue knowledge. She always stuck up for what she thought was right, even if others did not share her opinion. I am a very liberal Northern woman living in a very conservative Southern community… I know what it feels like to have an unpopular opinion, and it is because of Hermione’s compassion and daring nature (let’s think back to Hermione’s efforts with S.P.E.W. in the 5th book) that I have the strength to stand up about my beliefs and try to protect the rights of others.
2. Ron Weasley taught me that I can overcome my fears if only I try, and loyalty is everything.
I feel like Ron Weasley is overlooked as a courageous character by far too many people. Ron put himself on the line and faced his fears over and over again to save his friends. That is true courage. Even after watching chess pieces get completely and utterly demolished on the life-size version of wizarding chess, Ron was still willing to sacrifice himself for his friends.
Not only that, but when Hagrid was in trouble and Ron and Harry had to venture out into the forest and follow the spiders, Ron did not back down, even though spiders are his worst fear. I wish I had friends like Ron Weasley, but since I don’t I aspire to be the Ronald Weasley of my friends.
3. Severus Snape taught me to never, ever, ever judge a book by its cover.
To be completely honest, like much of the world, I actively hated Severus Snape. However, that changed when he taught me one of the most important lessons in life: Do not judge a book by its cover. Throughout the series Severus Snape always left a sour taste in my mouth. He seemed so slimy and heartless, but as it turned out his big bleeding heart is what made him seem so cold on the outside.
While it may have seemed like Severus was out to get Harry, he was actually trying to protect him in his own way, out of love for Harry’s mother, Lily Potter. Even through death, Severus was willing to do everything he could to save Lily's son, Harry. So, while on the outside someone may seem cold-hearted or just plain rotten, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are. Some people are like onions, you have to peel back the layers to see what good could be on the inside.
4. Harry taught me to pick my battles, and when I decide something is worth fighting for, I must fight with every ember of my body.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a lover not a fighter, however, I will fight for what I love and believe in. Harry spent the majority of his life struggling through some really crappy circumstances, but no matter how much it hurt or how hard it got, he never gave up. Harry taught me that while sometimes the muggles may get me down, I must always stand back up again and never give up.
5. Ginny taught us that you can’t always fight your demons on your own, and hiding them can only make them worse.
This lesson hits me the hardest. I do not like speaking about my struggles with mental illness or my various health issues. I don’t even really like acknowledging them. Like Ginny, I’m more inclined to fight my demons on my own or hide them, rather than seek help. I think it’s safe to say that we have both learned the hard way that this doesn’t just hurt ourselves, it hurts those around us, too. If we are to overcome our demons, we must realize that everyone is fighting their own demons. You are not alone and your demons do not make you who you are, but how you deal with them shapes you into who you will be.
6. Voldemort taught me that prejudice is all around, and there will always be some evil people out there, but light will always prevail.
There are lessons to be learned everywhere, even from someone as dastardly as Lord Voldemort. Rowling did a wondrous job overlapping issues that we face today in the muggle world to that of the wizarding world. Prejudice and oppression are both two HUGE issues that Rowling emphasized a lot throughout the series. In my mind, Voldemort is the Hitler of the wizarding world or maybe even a Donald Trump.
Their radical nonsensical ideas bring all the crazies out of the woodwork, but they also unite those who stand for all that is good in the world. As Albus Dumbledore once said, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of places if one only turns on the light.” I feel that the same can be said about the good in people.
7. Finally, Dolores Umbridge taught us that the education system should never be the instrument of a political agenda.
Unfortunately, in the age we live in, just about everything serves a political agenda, even our education system. With the appointment of Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education, I couldn’t help but groan. I remembered quite vividly what happened the last time an ignorant, sanctimonious liar was appointed to a major education post. Centaurs were needed to get rid of her and the whole education system was an absolute disaster!
The parallels between these two women is quite stunning. They both have no real experience with public education. They both feel entitled to the power the government gave them and have certain agendas that are more in line with their own personal ideologies rather than the public’s benefit.
The position of Secretary of Education is vital because educators are in charge of shaping the future minds of this country. Politics and political agendas have their place, and it is not in the education system. If you cannot distance yourself from said agenda you have no place shaping the minds of the future.
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It is because of Harry Potter and the brilliant mind of JK Rowling that I found the healing power of the written word. Without Harry, I don’t think I would have been able to endure all the poking and prodding that I did as a child while I was constantly sick. I was simultaneously able to both lose and find myself within these books. I can honestly say I do not know what I would have done without the little orphan boy who lived under the stairs at number 4 Privet Drive.
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| Mischief Managed |
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