My Appeal
Name: Elizabeth
Age: 20
House you were sorted into: Hufflepuff
Link to original application: http://community.livejournal.com/platform_934/158001.html
Are there any questions you would like to elaborate on?
Who is your role model?
Original response
Honestly, J.K. Rowling because she overcame adversity, being a single mother without hardly any money, and was able to follow her dream of writing Harry Potter.
Elaboration:
Although I admire J.K. Rowling, over the last several months I have become more of a leader than a follower. I do not seek to copy someone else's life, but to make one for myself. I am a strong, intelligent, independent person. Although there are many people I admire, I now believe that my role model is myself. I want to be someone I am proud of and someone other people will look up to rather than looking to others to emulate.
What trait most annoys you about other people?
Original response:
I don't like people that try to make other people feel stupid in order to make themselves feel smarter. If they were really smart, they would know something about how to treat people and not belittle them by trying to act like an arrogant know-it-all.
Elaboration:
I cannot stand when people try to demean others. Whenever someone tries to put somebody else down to show they are smarter or better than somebody else, it really shows their own inferiority because they have to try and make themselves feel better than somebody else. Although one may be smarter, going out of ones way to try and make other people feel inferior shows that they are not because they have to resort to such immature games and tactics in order to justify their own insecurities and inflate their ego. This only hurts themselves in the long run and annoys as well as hurts other people.
What do you want to do for a living?
Original response:
My dream would be to be a novelist, however, that is not something that would be steady or guaranteed (not to mention I have gotten pretty discouraged the last few months after a couple of my classes). Realistically, I would like to work for some sort of corporation either in advertising or public relations, or I would like to be a sign language interpreter.
Elaboration:
As most college students do, I have changed my major several times. Now, as a senior, I have finally decided that I want to teach English on the secondary education or junior college level. Nowadays younger people do not appreciate the art of literature because of the instantaneousness of television, movies, video games, and the internet. I think that language is an important tool regardless of what career one should choose because everyone needs to know how to communicate their ideas. Also, as Aristotle said about drama though I am going to take some liberties and extend it to literature as a whole, literature allows people to learn life lessons through cathartic experiences. One need not experience death, murder, or deception in order to learn from it but can learn by seeing how it affects others. They gain the knowledge of what to do in situations by learning about others experience, and that is one of the most valuable things about English. Not only does one learn to communicate, but also how to live their life, and unfortunately, I think many kids today could use all the help they could get. If I could show one child, or even young adult, the value of communication and learning through others mistakes I would be so happy. If I could get one person to understand this and value education, language, and drama in this way, I think I would jump up and down with glee. Knowledge truly is power and the more power we can give our future leaders, the better chance that this world will have to solve problems rationally and logically instead of with brute force.
If your friend was attacked (by a person, animal, or (in the magic world) beast), what would you do?
Original response:
First, I would get them away from the danger. Then, I would try to help them with any immediate care they needed, like if they were bleeding or not breathing, and then I would call for help.
Elaboration:
I have a temper and don't always think before I act. Although I have taken several classes of what to do in an emergency, I doubt I could remain that unattached and unemotional. Realistically, I would probably attempt to hurt what-ever was hurting my loved one as much as they hurt them. If it were a bear or a person, I would try to get my friend to safety and then launch at the animal trying to tear it apart with my own hands. When I get riled up, I tend to be reckless and forget to think before I act, though generally I am paralyzed by my indecisiveness and nature to analyze every possible outcome to death.
What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
Original response:
I am funny (well at least I think I am funny)-mostly I am kinda goofy, zany, and random, but I think that's funny, or maybe a little weird, well at least I can make myself laugh!
Elaboration:
I would change I am funny to I am random. I am not afraid to act silly, tell people what I think, have random bursts of energy, giggles, or quotes from anything like movies to magazines. I think it takes a certain amount of strength to be able to not be afraid of what others will think and just do what makes me happy, regardless of whether or not other people would get embarrassed in the same situation. No one's going to rain on my parade.
Explain why you feel misplaced in your current House!
*Before I begin, I would like to apologize to Kristi because most of this she has already read in my original e-mail. Thanks.*
I feel misplaced for several reasons. First of all, I joined this community to meet other people with similar interests as my own and to have fun. The contests are great because it allows one to try new things and meet new people. However, I have grown increasingly uncomfortable over the last few months because of the ferocity people have shown with trying to get others to participate. I try to participate as much as possible in activities that interest me, such as writing activities and sorting (I have been top-voter many times). I do not agree with the badgering (no pun intended) that takes place in order to get people involved. By badgering, I do not mean the announcements of activities or voting log, but the list of people that are active, constantly announcing how many puffs have completed an activity, etc. Being made to feel guilty and inadequate does not make me want to participate. I joined this community for something fun to do in my spare time, not to be made to feel like I HAVE to participate and that I am letting my housemates down by not doing close to every activity and helping to win the virtual house cup, which comes to my second point.
Second of all, besides the fact that it isn't fun to be made to feel guilty for not participating as much as someone else thinks one should, I absolutely do not agree with the means in which the prefects are trying to win. It clearly states in the rules that there is to be absolutely no use of sock puppet accounts, and someone as active as our prefect, one would assume, would be very familiar with these rules. Not only that, but also the fact that there were posts in our common room stating the anonymous tips said prefect was receiving: http://community.livejournal.com/the_puff_house/314354.html is an example of said post.
Besides the fact about how the Gryffindors must feel about everything that has happened, I am appalled at the way in which everything has played out and the behavior our leaders have shown. I do not believe those are the values of any of the houses and am ashamed to be associated with such a group. Hufflepuffs are supposed to be hard-working and loyal, not ferociously competitive. I can understand wanting to make people excited about joining the Hufflepuff house, since we are the house least glorified in the books and often are thought of as mediocre: "Hufflepuff took all the rest," "Some people say Hufflepuffs are duffers," etc. But I do not agree with what has been going on the last few months, not only the recent developments, but also the many posts trying to get people involved in everything possible. I don't think this promotion of competition encourages house unity or even getting to know people in the other houses whenever occasions like Hogsmeade, etc. occur. For example, a couple months ago people were making banners saying positive qualities for puffs and all the other houses were antonyms (http://community.livejournal.com/the_puff_house/236308.html) which I didn't think was very polite or supportive of house unity, especially since it happened right after a lot of drama had just played out and people left. I have not felt any pride in signing my name as a Hufflepuff and earning them points for participating in activities because I don't agree with the way in which people are going about it. I like to participate, I want to play and have fun, but I do not want to feel right supporting a house that I feel so uncomfortable in and disagree with on so many levels.
Also, as a side note, I didn't bring up any of my complaints with the prefects because I did not want to start drama. I would rather just leave quietly without starting any further drama, getting to continue to participate in this great community that I love, and not having to feel uncomfortable about how much I play or the behaviors and ethics of the leadership. I have enough drama in my life without having to worry about the behaviors of the leaders in a community I participate in for enjoyment.
In conclusion, I feel that I need to be re-sorted because I do not feel comfortable in my own common room because of the behavior of several individuals. I do not feel that these people represent the house well or the community and am appalled at what has taken place. I am ashamed to be associated with a house that would go to such means to win the virtual house cup and encourage further division within the community. I love this community and everything that the Mods try to do for all of us, but it is not fun anymore for me because I do not feel it is right for me to continue to participate in a group that is willing to go so far for a game. Nor is it fun to feel badgered or to see the obsession with points and competition rather than enjoying our time together. I feel guilty and ashamed whenever I participate and people in other houses see that I am a Hufflpuff and am helping support to said house. I do not have any pride or desire to participate anymore because I do not want to give the house points, even though I want to play and socialize with everybody else. I have had some good experiences and made some great friends, but I don't like feeling this way and can't continue feeling this uncomfortable about my virtual family.
What would you see in the Mirror of Erised? Be exact with your descriptions!
I would see myself, twenty years from now, sitting in a nice easy chair in my gorgeous but practical house with my husband, then celebrating our 22nd year of marriage and still going strong. We would both have good jobs and be living comfortably, not rich but comfortable. Our children, hopefully some of our own as well as adopted, though right now the “our own” is looking grim, running around playing. Basically, to not have to worry about money and to feel totally accepted and loved. I have a hard time accepting the nice things people do and hope that someday I can do that without question; that I can accept people's love without being frightened. I also want to be secure both with my family and financially. I don't want to have to always be a poor college student eating macaroni and cheese, though it is one of my favorite foods. I want to go out to eat dinner without worrying about how many groceries we can still buy for the week. Security with myself, with society’s expectations such as being able to support oneself and their family, and security with my loved ones is what I desire. I guess in the end it comes to practical and emotional satisfaction, though I am quite happy with my life the way it is right now.
What makes you unique?
Although I pride myself in the fact that I am a lot like Hermione because I am very book smart, what makes me unique is that I am random. You can never expect what I will say or do next. I find things like falling down hilarious. Like I said before, I am not afraid to make a fool of myself to make my friends and me happy and have a nice time. I am a loud, boisterous, vibrant lover of life. I do things like throw popcorn at movies and scream "What part of periwinkle don't you understand?" not because I am angry but to make people laugh. I giggle, make funny faces, crawl around in a sleeping bag like a worm, and get into philosophical, political, religious, and social debates. You could easily find me watching American Idol or Tiny Toon reruns while I read Shakespeare or Chaucer. My interests are varied and I am not afraid to explore new things, share my opinions, and go against the grain at times by being a little bit crazy.