The Sorting Hat Identity Crisis

The Sorting Hat Identity Crisis

When you think you're a Gryffindor but you get sorted into...
Ariana Archilla
Ariana Archilla Feb 2, 2016
753
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It's a defining moment in a person's life when one single question can solve all of their internal mysteries. A question whose answer reveals an indisputable truth about a person that can alter their life forever... That most important question is... Which Hogwarts house do you belong in?

To take the one test that mattered, all you would have to do is look no further than Pottermore, the online HQ for all things of the wizarding world. Here, you could participate in the Sorting Ceremony, and figure out which house you'd call your home in Hogwarts! Are you crafty and clever like a Slytherin? Are you wise like a Ravenclaw? Loyal like a Hufflepuff? Or are you brave and bold like a Gryffindor? This sorting was basically every fans dream come true. Finally, there was one true answer of where you belonged! However, a world wide panic spread last September when Pottermore went under a relaunch and update causing members to lose their previous houses and wands. But never fear! If you haven't been told the good news already, I'm happy to announce that our beloved Sorting Ceremony is back in action!

Of course, all good things come with a catch. Because all of the houses and wands were lost during the previous months, all previous members are required to rejoin and get resorted. This caused a bit of a scare with the fans, because the one test that mattered had to be retaken. It was hard the first time, and they want us to take it again? Luckily, you are given a choice when you first begin. Fans could either reclaim their previous houses and wands, or they can try their luck and get resorted.

This is where I would like to take a long pause. R.E.S.O.R.T.E.D. For those who had an existential crisis previously, it's about to get a whole lot worse! Fans who dared take this path were completely shocked (and more than confused) when their previous sorting was different than the now! Slytherins were suddenly thrown into Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws were suddenly launched into Gryffindor! The balance of the world suddenly exploded! And the worst part is, is that this new sorting is 100% PERMANENT. There are no Talk about a dilemma! Only about half of the people who decided to get resorted were put into the same house they were in before. Everyone else? They are currently hiding from the world trying to figure out just what went wrong. So, where do you truly belong?

To shed a more personal light on the subject, I'll talk about my crisis when I was sorted in the official (and so painfully permanent) ceremony. In previous months, I have taken probably every single knock off sorting quiz there is on the world wide web. My first time I ever took a sorting quiz I got stuck between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, which ultimately turned out to be Gryffindor. But, to be sure, I continued to take more quizzes and low and behold, I got Ravenclaw 99.9% of the time. This is good news right? At least for a little bit, it was.

After the last quiz, I finally excepted my house. I was in Ravenclaw where "those of wit and learning will always find their kind." I mean, it made sense. I'm a rather intelligent, witty child, whose obsession with books and writing is almost unmatched. This was totally something I could categorize myself in! From there on, I was a proud Ravenclaw.

Well, when I heard about the new Sorting Ceremony on "Pottermore", I knew I just had to be officially sorted. Might as well 100% confirm I'm a Ravenclaw, right? It would be fun! So, I quickly go on the site, sign up, and bravely start the quiz. Most of the questions were odd, so I took a really long time to answer them to make sure I picked the best fit. When I got to the last question (which I didn't know what the last question at the time) and hit the submit answer button, I was completely and utterly stunned to receive a flash of red on my screen, and the big words of "Congratulations on being sorted into Gryffindor!"

Say WHAT? What did this test mean I was in Gryffindor?! I'm a Ravenclaw! At this point I was freaking out, because I knew these results were permanent. I then began texting my dear friend, Sam, about my problems (like a normal whiny girl). What do I do? Am I truly a Gryffindor, or am I really a Ravenclaw? I've been associating with being a Ravenclaw for so long that I don't know what I'm going to do with myself!

It came to a point where I had her take the test, just to see what would happen. My Slytherin friend obliged, and took the test. Suddenly, we were on the same boat. My previously 100% Slytherin gal, was sorted into Ravenclaw- MY SHOULD BE HOUSE. By then we were both freaking out (I was mostly livid and screaming, while Sam was just stunned, but whatever). Have we been living in a lie this whole time? Is this really where we belong?

We began doing some digging. Maybe there was a way out. Maybe the test was glitching. I checked all of the social media sites I have, and that's where I found out that a lot of people were having the same problem. I began clicking random tags (just to see how many people where switching their houses), when I accidentally clicked a tag I didn't even know existed.

This is when my lovely friend and I discovered what was to be our saving grace- combined houses. They are unofficial Hogwarts houses in the wizarding world, but, in the fanbase at least, they're pretty legit. These houses are for the ones who were so evenly paired off with two houses (like Hermione and Harry were) that there is no one answer. Instead, there is a combined house. These houses include Gryffinclaw, Slytherdor, Slytherpuff, Ravenpuff, Slytherclaw, and Gryffinpuff. The houses combine all of your attributes that are used for two separate houses, and puts them into one collective house. So, there's no need to suffer and choose just one or the other! Just accept that you're a perfect combination of both! You are a beautiful mess!

So, for those who are currently going through the Sorting Hat Situation, know that there is another option! Ultimately, it's your own choice that who defines who you are, not a test. You chose who you are. I suggest you take the chance to chose and roll with it!

Sincerely,

A proud Gryffinclaw

Cover Image Credit: Google Images
Ariana Archilla
Ariana Archilla Feb 2, 2016
At Centenary College of New Jersey

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7 Reasons Why Literature Is So Important

"Literature Is One Of The Most Interesting And Significant Expressions Of Humanity." -P. T. Barnum
Breanna Sahr
Breanna Sahr Sep 1, 2015
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Today, there are too many people who believe that literature is simply not important or underestimate its abilities to stand the test of time and give us great knowledge. There is a stigma in society that implies one who is more inclined toward science and math will somehow be more successful in life, and that one who is more passionate toward literature and other art forms will be destined to a life of low-paying jobs and unsatisfying careers. Somewhere along the line, the world has come to think that literature is insignificant. To me, however, literature serves as a gateway to learning of the past and expanding my knowledge and understanding of the world. Here are just a few reasons why literature is important.

1. Expanding horizons

First and foremost, literature opens our eyes and makes us see more than just what the front door shows. It helps us realize the wide world outside, surrounding us. With this, we begin to learn, ask questions, and build our intuitions and instincts. We expand our minds.

2. Building critical thinking skills

Many of us learn what critical thinking is in our language arts classes. When we read, we learn to look between the lines. We are taught to find symbols, make connections, find themes, learn about characters. Reading expands these skills, and we begin to look at a sentence with a larger sense of detail and depth and realize the importance of hidden meanings so that we may come to a conclusion.

3. A leap into the past

History and literature are entwined with each other. History is not just about power struggles, wars, names, and dates. It is about people who are products of their time, with their own lives. Today the world is nothing like it was in the 15th century; people have changed largely. Without literature, we would not know about our past, our families, the people who came before and walked on the same ground as us.

4. Appreciation for other cultures and beliefs

Reading about history, anthropology, or religious studies provides a method of learning about cultures and beliefs other than our own. It allows you to understand and experience these other systems of living and other worlds. We get a view of the inside looking out, a personal view and insight into the minds and reasoning of someone else. We can learn, understand, and appreciate it.

5. Better writing skills

When you open a book, when your eyes read the words and you take in its contents, do you ask yourself: How did this person imagine and write this? Well, many of those authors, poets, or playwrights used literature to expand their writing.

6. Addressing humanity

All literature, whether it be poems, essays, novels, or short stories, helps us address human nature and conditions which affect all people. These may be the need for growth, doubts and fears of success and failure, the need for friends and family, the goodness of compassion and empathy, trust, or the realization of imperfection. We learn that imperfection is not always bad and that normal can be boring. We learn that life must be lived to the fullest. We need literature in order to connect with our own humanity.

Literature is important and necessary. It provides growth, strengthens our minds and gives us the ability to think outside the box.

Cover Image Credit: google.com/images
Breanna Sahr
Breanna Sahr Sep 1, 2015
At Wittenberg University

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What The Odyssey Has Taught Me

Find your opportunities and seize them!

Meghana Choudari
Meghana Choudari Sep 19, 2018
12
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We all have passions. A passion to be a doctor or an actor or an author. But those all take time and don't happen overnight and everyone has to start from the beginning; just like the saying, "Even an expert was once a beginner."

And there are those who have passions, but enjoy such zeal on a side during their free time.

Journaling is a sideline that I enjoy because it allows me to process my thoughts and feelings, and gives me the ability to maximize more positive reframing options in my day, week, or season of life.

I let this leisure activity be taken to the next level when I came across the idea of writing articles for the Odyssey. Little did I know of what I was really getting myself into before I had my interview. I thought the Odyssey would take give me topics to write and would only be published upon preference, but it was the opposite.

The beauty of Odyssey is that us writers are the creators. We create our topics and we share our stories and those who care follow your posts. Though I was hesitant at first, I decided to look at this as an opportunity to grow regardless of the outcome that is decided by publicity.

Do I regret it?

It was by far one of the sensible decisions I've made because this limitless platform taught me to reward creativity as well as to continually improve. I have the chance to hone my skills from professional editors and access a community of like-minded perspectives. Outside of improving my writing skills, I learned social media and audience development tactics along with just getting to have fun.

So to all those who want to step up in their passions or are even in their journey of finding what they love to do, whether it's big or small, I say take your opportunities and learn from them. You never know what more you could learn if you don't miss out and remember, opportunities don't last forever.

Meghana Choudari
Meghana Choudari Sep 19, 2018
At University of Texas

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