What I Wish You Knew
Olivia Yi (ISB 9)
Staff writer Olivia Yi definitely ranks high as a Harry Potter fan in the ISB community, if not nationally.
Continuing her Harry Potter theme from her first article, Olivia extracts the many life lessons she has gleaned through the hundreds of times she has reread the series. Her second article “What I Wish You Knew” is deeply personal and thoughtful, containing everything she wishes she could tell her younger self.
Quotes are used everywhere - as the hook of an essay, the headline of a poster, on shiny advertisements - usually to catch the audience's attention. Motivational quotes or inspirational quotes from books, movies, and those out of an individual's mouth, are overtly common. Out of these different origins of quotes, books are one of the most famous. They inspire us and teach us through different character's perspectives. A renowned example is the Harry Potter series as its quotes are one of the most popular aspects of the fandom. Like the quotes, Harry Potter gets a lot of love and hate at the same time. It is one of the most loved fandoms while simultaneously being one of the most underrated series ever. The plot of Harry Potter details how a young wizard fights a monstrous villain with magic. Harry Potter gets most of its hate because people believe the story is childish, just because this book series encompasses magic. While the story is about kids at first, JK Rowling litters hidden gems of wisdom and meaning in the form of quotes that really could be advice for all ages - child or not.
(From youtube)
“We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That is who we really are.”
- Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
Everyone can succeed and do whatever they want; what it takes is courage and effort. Everyone - no matter who you are and where you are from and how you define yourself - every single human on this planet has the ability to succeed and achieve what they want. The important part is to recognize that ability and seize the opportunity. Some of us put up a fence up called "The Limit." We might believe that there is a limit to our dreams because the reality of life causes us to give up our hope and desire to follow that dream. The 'light' in the quote is the bright dream, the wish everyone has, perhaps when young and innocent, while the dark is the little tinging voice in the back of one's head, shouting facts about the 'reality of the real world' and bringing us down with eager hands.
However, remember you are the only one that makes the final choice, and what matters is which part one acts on. All of those successful people out there meet obstacles and have gone through discouragement. Still, they endure and believe in themselves and walk toward their desire, hope, and dream. This choice defines you - of either following the light or succumbing to the dark. It shows what your heart wants.
“I am what I am, an’ I’m not ashamed. ‘Never be ashamed,’ my ol’ dad used ter say, ‘there’s some who’ll hold it against you, but they’re not worth botherin’ with.’”
- Rubeus Hagrid, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter characters are wondrous simply because they are incomplete and have flaws. J.K. Rowling didn't sugarcoat these characters. She didn't make them absolute human perfection on Earth; she made them mirror humans by highlighting their weaknesses. For example, Harry was brave, loyal, selfless, and respectful to others, but he was moody, short-tempered, reckless, and had a strong need to sacrifice himself and play the hero. No one is perfect. Celebrities of any field that you might believe to polished are not entirely. Dumbledore, who everyone believes to be intelligent and witty, was extremely manipulative to many around him in all seven books. So, accept yourself, no matter who you are; no one is perfect. Being unusual is good. Flaws are a part of the identity one has and what shapes us; we wouldn't be on the journey of life without them.
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
- Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Everyone has a dream that they would like to achieve, winning a competition, going on a diet, getting good grades, or being able to go to the right university. To make these dreams come alive, we have to work toward that goal; the dream isn't going to achieve itself if you are only thinking and dwelling on it, but not taking any real action. Dreaming is important, but so is working. If you have the most brilliant idea for a novel, that novel isn't going to write itself; you must act on it to make it come to life - plan the story, shape the characters, write draft after draft, find people to publish it! Don't only think and imagine about dreams coming true, remember to live, understand the world, and bring them to life.
Dreams, flaws and your path in life all root from your "happiness." You pursue a dream to be happy, and you learn to be happy with your flaws and overcome them. Happiness, the word itself conveys so many meanings and emotions. There isn't a clear definition of happiness. Ultimately, everyone is on a journey to find their way of being happy, and honestly, you make your meaning of happiness. Neither compare nor think that everyone is like you because diversity is what separates and brings people together. There are so many ways to be happy - feeling excited, proud, impressed for a multiple of reasons that is different for each person.
In the end, JK Rowling and I both want you to know that accept yourself no matter who you are is essential. I hope you, dear reader, understand that JK Rowling wants you to focus on your happiness as that is what matters most in your life:
it is your path,
no one else's,
don't define yourself in a fixed fence or a box,
let yourself explore and wonder.
(From tumblr)