Life Lessons
by Lori
It occurred to me a few weeks ago -while compiling themes for a novel study- how absolutely central Harry Potter has been to my development, as a human being. As a teen. As a self-proclaimed artist of various mediums. And most of all (believe it or not) of my social development.
Whether or not you read the story as a child- in the arms of a protecting mother, or a father adding in the voices of your favorite characters. Or if you only recently snuck Philosopher’s Stone between your pile of books, checking them out at a book store. Either or, your life, since that moment; the first page being turned- the moment your nose caught wiff of the new book; at that very moment your life has been altered.
The look of disbelief on your face right now is evidently predicted as I sit here in my chair, sipping coffee, procrastinating the inevitable (studying for exams) and even more so, ignoring the pop ups of people wanting to talk. But I’m paying them no attention. Not because I want them to feel unimportant, but because I think it’s rather vital you get your head around this epiphany of mine- whether you want it or not.
You and I, we’re different from the muggles at your High School- we’re different from the old men who sit in their benches, stone faced as you pass them to the corner store. We’re different from the eye-rolling employee at Tim Hortens. We don’t even COMPARE* to the ever-important jock currently getting wasted as we spend this time on our computers. We’re different because of Harry Potter. Not solely for that reason, but all directly- or indirectly- connected in some way or another.
Being apart of the fandom this year, well, it’s changed my perspective on a lot of things. I hadn’t actually read the series very long before discovering that there were some weirdos out there who wrote music about books. But not just books in general - no, these people wrote songs about Harry Potter. They spent moments of their life just sitting around mixing some chords and vocals, a few rhyming words, forming minutes into songs about a character invented between thin paper. And I thought it was brilliant. These people- they single-handedly created a subgenre. They were independent artists who took a chance on something they loved, something they hoped others would love too. And some not even as a way to pass the time- there are people who’s careers were focused around Harry Potter. They traveled the country- literally spreading the love of a boy wizard through music. If you don’t think that that’s amazing, I really can’t see what astounds you.
Eventually I got curious- if one could produce music about a book, surely there was other forms of expressing the love of a single series. And there was. Of course there was. After stumbling through friends-of-friends-of-friends-of-friends on myspace, I came across the Harry Potter Alliance. I heard of it briefly in a blog post I believed- so being bored, clicked on it. The myspace had a link to the site, which I clicked hungrily, wanting any information I could have. The site was nothing too fancy- just a layout, designs. But of course, I barely looked at that, I was already scanning the information - the projects that were going on at that very moment. I saw that people had raised literally thousands of dollars for all sorts of projects. There were pages that proudly showed past events, the history of the HPA, everything. I was flabbergasted. I read through more and more, and the longer I read, the more I was amazed. There were people everywhere in the world- forming together to change it. People who had come together on no more common interest then one book series. Just one character and his pals had helped secure safety of THOUSANDS of people in Darfur. Donated over 14 THOUSAND books. Made over 3500 calls to help ensure equality in Maine for same-sex marriage. Guys, just re-read those last few sentences again. Let it sink in.
I mean, just these two things alone- I was amazed. And there were still so much to learn about the people who cared about these books. I came to the knowledge of an eleven-year-old boy who had loved Harry Potter enough to create a website which had millions of views to date. I read of woman who even as an adult- fell in love with a children’s series, that became webmistress of one of the most popular Harry Potter sites. Story after story- amazement after amazement. The world became more open- I felt so connected with some many people. That if one series could inspire all this- what else could it possibly do?
I mean, looking back on it, I think I fell in love with the fandom before I was even truly apart of it. I was so inspired. I saw things through new light. Whenever there seemed to be dismay in the world, disasters, I started wondering what would happen if people joined together to fight it-just like the Harry Potter fans of the world did. There were people who never before would have considered writing music- posting things on myspace, feeling Gryffindor-ish enough to share their love. And that’s really the word I’m looking for to describe this - love. If there was ever something we would never run out of with Harry Potter fans in the world- it was love.
These are just branches, spread out and winding around each other, stretching into infinity- like the chances around us. The very roots from which they had bound out of still in tact, and still with the same intent. The book series taught us so much. Themes like racism, power-control, self-expression and more painted between it’s pages. Tattooed on our minds.
I don’t know when it all finally came together, when the time I spent on the internet, making friends and forming opinions and decisions, finally translated over to my ‘IRL life’** but I remember that it eventually did. I started seeing those girls with the acid tongues and burning glares no longer frightening, but annoying flies to be ignored. I remember those Malfoy-boys with their disgusted faces they threw at anyone who they hadn’t deemed appropriate washing into the background- paling wall-flowers. Eventually I didn’t care about ‘drama’ or what I was going to wear the next day. I didn’t care who I ‘was seen talking to’ or who whispered ‘ohmygoosh, what a dork’ anymore. I had found a new world. A world that was so much bigger and held so much more -well AWESOME- that these petty pests barely earned a second glance. I surrounded myself with people I loved and cared about, but always leaving the door opened for those who wished to join us. Because in a few years, High School was going to end- everyone would leave, go their own ways. And I know now that there is so much to do, so much to be thankful for- so many opportunities that a few missed nights at parties seemed nothing. Because THEY were opportunities to be missed.
I guess that’s all I needed to say. I don’t know about everyone else out there of course, but I wouldn’t trade any experiences with anything. I’m so proud of the chances it’s given me, the new lifestyle. And again- whether or not it was drastic, I bet your life as changed too. And be straight up- isn’t it AWESOME on this side of the fence?
*The purpose of this is not to make me seem rather full of myself- I don’t consider myself above ANYONE, nor should you. Rather, that we don’t compare on values- what’s important and what’s not.
** IRL meaning In Real Life - it’s also nerd-chat for life that ISN’T the computer - like school, muggle friends, etc.
Whether or not you read the story as a child- in the arms of a protecting mother, or a father adding in the voices of your favorite characters. Or if you only recently snuck Philosopher’s Stone between your pile of books, checking them out at a book store. Either or, your life, since that moment; the first page being turned- the moment your nose caught wiff of the new book; at that very moment your life has been altered.
The look of disbelief on your face right now is evidently predicted as I sit here in my chair, sipping coffee, procrastinating the inevitable (studying for exams) and even more so, ignoring the pop ups of people wanting to talk. But I’m paying them no attention. Not because I want them to feel unimportant, but because I think it’s rather vital you get your head around this epiphany of mine- whether you want it or not.
You and I, we’re different from the muggles at your High School- we’re different from the old men who sit in their benches, stone faced as you pass them to the corner store. We’re different from the eye-rolling employee at Tim Hortens. We don’t even COMPARE* to the ever-important jock currently getting wasted as we spend this time on our computers. We’re different because of Harry Potter. Not solely for that reason, but all directly- or indirectly- connected in some way or another.
Being apart of the fandom this year, well, it’s changed my perspective on a lot of things. I hadn’t actually read the series very long before discovering that there were some weirdos out there who wrote music about books. But not just books in general - no, these people wrote songs about Harry Potter. They spent moments of their life just sitting around mixing some chords and vocals, a few rhyming words, forming minutes into songs about a character invented between thin paper. And I thought it was brilliant. These people- they single-handedly created a subgenre. They were independent artists who took a chance on something they loved, something they hoped others would love too. And some not even as a way to pass the time- there are people who’s careers were focused around Harry Potter. They traveled the country- literally spreading the love of a boy wizard through music. If you don’t think that that’s amazing, I really can’t see what astounds you.
Eventually I got curious- if one could produce music about a book, surely there was other forms of expressing the love of a single series. And there was. Of course there was. After stumbling through friends-of-friends-of-friends-of-friends on myspace, I came across the Harry Potter Alliance. I heard of it briefly in a blog post I believed- so being bored, clicked on it. The myspace had a link to the site, which I clicked hungrily, wanting any information I could have. The site was nothing too fancy- just a layout, designs. But of course, I barely looked at that, I was already scanning the information - the projects that were going on at that very moment. I saw that people had raised literally thousands of dollars for all sorts of projects. There were pages that proudly showed past events, the history of the HPA, everything. I was flabbergasted. I read through more and more, and the longer I read, the more I was amazed. There were people everywhere in the world- forming together to change it. People who had come together on no more common interest then one book series. Just one character and his pals had helped secure safety of THOUSANDS of people in Darfur. Donated over 14 THOUSAND books. Made over 3500 calls to help ensure equality in Maine for same-sex marriage. Guys, just re-read those last few sentences again. Let it sink in.
I mean, just these two things alone- I was amazed. And there were still so much to learn about the people who cared about these books. I came to the knowledge of an eleven-year-old boy who had loved Harry Potter enough to create a website which had millions of views to date. I read of woman who even as an adult- fell in love with a children’s series, that became webmistress of one of the most popular Harry Potter sites. Story after story- amazement after amazement. The world became more open- I felt so connected with some many people. That if one series could inspire all this- what else could it possibly do?
I mean, looking back on it, I think I fell in love with the fandom before I was even truly apart of it. I was so inspired. I saw things through new light. Whenever there seemed to be dismay in the world, disasters, I started wondering what would happen if people joined together to fight it-just like the Harry Potter fans of the world did. There were people who never before would have considered writing music- posting things on myspace, feeling Gryffindor-ish enough to share their love. And that’s really the word I’m looking for to describe this - love. If there was ever something we would never run out of with Harry Potter fans in the world- it was love.
These are just branches, spread out and winding around each other, stretching into infinity- like the chances around us. The very roots from which they had bound out of still in tact, and still with the same intent. The book series taught us so much. Themes like racism, power-control, self-expression and more painted between it’s pages. Tattooed on our minds.
I don’t know when it all finally came together, when the time I spent on the internet, making friends and forming opinions and decisions, finally translated over to my ‘IRL life’** but I remember that it eventually did. I started seeing those girls with the acid tongues and burning glares no longer frightening, but annoying flies to be ignored. I remember those Malfoy-boys with their disgusted faces they threw at anyone who they hadn’t deemed appropriate washing into the background- paling wall-flowers. Eventually I didn’t care about ‘drama’ or what I was going to wear the next day. I didn’t care who I ‘was seen talking to’ or who whispered ‘ohmygoosh, what a dork’ anymore. I had found a new world. A world that was so much bigger and held so much more -well AWESOME- that these petty pests barely earned a second glance. I surrounded myself with people I loved and cared about, but always leaving the door opened for those who wished to join us. Because in a few years, High School was going to end- everyone would leave, go their own ways. And I know now that there is so much to do, so much to be thankful for- so many opportunities that a few missed nights at parties seemed nothing. Because THEY were opportunities to be missed.
I guess that’s all I needed to say. I don’t know about everyone else out there of course, but I wouldn’t trade any experiences with anything. I’m so proud of the chances it’s given me, the new lifestyle. And again- whether or not it was drastic, I bet your life as changed too. And be straight up- isn’t it AWESOME on this side of the fence?
*The purpose of this is not to make me seem rather full of myself- I don’t consider myself above ANYONE, nor should you. Rather, that we don’t compare on values- what’s important and what’s not.
** IRL meaning In Real Life - it’s also nerd-chat for life that ISN’T the computer - like school, muggle friends, etc.
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