When I was 10 I begged my parents to rent out the DVD rental for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, being the well behaved daughter that I was my parents caved. I remember being in my room as the movie began and not realizing that this would be the very beginning of my story in the world of Harry Potter. I was so young at the time, barely finishing the fourth grade that my experience watching the movie was a different chapter of my life. The film was such an adventure for me while spooky in certain areas, I loved it as a kid. I continued to keep up with story of the dynamic trio consisting of Harry, Hermoine, and Ron by reading books 1-3 with the help of my cousin. She owned the books herself and was a much bigger fan than I was. Although I didn’t finish reading books 4-7, I was quick to watch the films in theaters as they came out.
Fast foward today, which would be a little over a decade and a half, my experience watching the films again and reading the books is staggering. Its as if I am being introduced to the world of Harry Potter for the first time. I am able to understand and see the little things I was never able to pick up when I was younger.
I was always envious of Harry when I was a little girl. He had all of the personality traits I wished to have. Harry was brave and courageous in every film. He took risks to save the people he loved and in the midst of that he became the Boy who defeated He Who Shall Not Be Named. His greatest accomplishments were recognized by everyone, but not once did Harry allowed it to get to his head. I grew up scared and unsure of the person I wanted to be. I did not take risks whatsoever. I stayed in my lane and forced myself to be whatever I needed to be in order to be liked by everyone. I cared more about what said about me then my own health and mental state. Eventually I was able to be at a place where I wasn’t insecure about who I wanted to be. It took several years of binge watching all the films and a clearer and wiser head to realize the person that I am is pretty darn great. Every character in the series had a moment where they doubted themselves, but eventually found clarity within the grey clouds and found a ray of confidence in their true selves. The series paved the way into the person I am slowly becoming and for that, I could not be more thankful to J.K Rowling.
Anyone who has read the books or even watched the films knows that everyone is sorted into their houses. I was always curious about what house I would be sorted in. I never took it upon myself to take the quizzes on which house I would be sorted because I felt that they were all redundant. I knew that I would be able to answer the questions carefully and cleverly to sort myself into the house I felt that I should be in. I wanted the whole experience Harry had with the sorting hat in the Sorcerer’s Stone. When I was in college my friends at the time asked me If I knew what house I was in, I said no because I never bothered to find out. That same day I discovered Pottermore along with my friends and took what I felt was the real testament in what house I belonged to. For once the element of surprise played in my favor as I was taking the sorting hat quiz. Not once did I feel I was able to cheat my way through the quiz. After a short wait, I was finally sorted into Ravenclaw “house that champions those with a ‘ready mind‘”. I had no doubt in my mind that the sorting hat put me in the right place.
Someday I’ll visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando, and walk through Diagon Alley and imagine myself in this fictional world. Years later, I hope to introduce my kids the world that helped me find myself whether it be through the books, characters or even magic. In the end, I know J.K. Rowlings words will carry the same impact decades later.
-Alondra