hih_appeals | (no subject)

Name: Theresa
Age: 19
House you were sorted into: Slytherin
Link to original application: Link!
Are there any questions you would like to elaborate on?
Quite a few, I'd say. I hope completely changing the answer is okay too... >_>
¤If you could teach one class at Hogwarts, what would it be and why?
My original answer was astronomy, but... I think I would rather learn that than take it. I think a more likely choice for me would be Potions, charms, or Transfiguration. I love how all three have the potential to be -extremely- hard, but once you get the hang of it, you can excel quickly. I had a hard time paying attention in school... A lot of my teachers were kind of boring... didn't do anything exciting in classes... I feel like I would be the kind of teacher Slughorn is/was, minus the whole... slug-club thing... I don't like to pick favorites. He was able to incorporate fun into the learning process, which I think is one of the most important things, especially in a difficult subject. It allows the students to relax a bit, which helps in so many ways.

¤If you could choose your animagus form, what would it be and why?
I would choose a bobcat. First off, they are beautiful. I like pretty things. :)
In all seriousness though...
Bobcats are relatively small, but can be fierce when they need to. I may not be much physically, but if something threatens me or mine, I will do anything in my power to protect them.
I tend to adapt reasonably well to most changes.One of the things that I admire most about the bobcat is the way they can adapt. They can go from having plenty of food to having almost none for a good long while. Their environment can change radically, and they will still thrive.
They are solitary animals, which I can relate to... Most of my good friends have moved away or just drifted out of contact, so I have very few people I can trust fully. I'm sure the bobcat isn't a loner because it doesn't trust other bobcats, but... They do travel and hunt alone.

¤What HP character do you identify with most and why
I've started re-reading the books again, and I think, honestly, the person I can relate most to is Ginny. She grew up in a family with only one other female. She isn't a tomboy, necessarily, but she definitely isn't a girly girl. [I'm thinking... Lavender Brown as a girly girl...]I have always had a bit of a rough time getting along with girls in general... I just have more in common with guys... I feel more comfortable, like I am able to be myself, and Ginny, because she grew up in that atmosphere, makes me feel like she could be one of the few girls I could really get close to.
I also see a bit of Tonks in me, as I originally stated in my application. I always pictured her as 'bubbly' and excited, trying to cheer people up when the mood is low... She is a bit of a klutz, which, I hate to say, I can relate to 190%, which endears me to her a bit. :)

¤If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it?
First thing I would do, instead of putting it into savings, I would start school. I have been craving to do -something- since I got out of high school, but... it didn't really work out that way... [My poor brain is rotting!]
I would take a couple classes that I didn't need, probably psychology, astronomy, biology, theater... I want to make up for my slacking years in high school! I'd go somewhere nice. Not like.. Yale or Harvard, but... not the community college either...
Next, I would buy new furniture for my apartment; Nice lighting, new couch, TV stand, book cases to hold all my books, a new TV, some art for the walls, a new bed, and various extra decorations.
Third, I would buy myself that wardrobe I've been wanting forever. New -everything- [I'm getting excited just thinking about it.] [with that wardrobe, I'd probably pick up the books I've been wanting to read, because I realllly need some more...]
I would either fix up my car, or by a new one [VW rabbit is my current desire], I would buy my mom and step dad anything they wanted, I would offer to get my boyfriends parents out of their debt [they'd try to refuse... I'd figure out a way...] and then help my sisters get out of the rutts they're stuck in.
After all that, I probably won't have much left over, so what I do have, I'd put into savings, or maybe some kind of stock, CD, whatever [assuming the economy isn't shit by then... :\]

¤What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
I just wanted to elaborate on this, and change a couple. :)
-I am very perceptive. I may not show it all the time, but I am very good at reading people. Their moods, their thoughts, their reasoning. I usually keep it to myself because when I don't, people close themselves off, and then I'm left with only half the picture.
-I am very easy going. It takes a lot for something to really upset me. Sure, a direct attack at my character isn't cool, but if something is said as a joke, chances are, no matter what the joke is, I won't be bothered by it.
-I have a good memory and I pay attention to detail. I like to pick things up that others miss. A comment from a friend that was off hand, I'll keep it in the back of my head, and a few weeks/months later, I'll pull it out and remind them about it. In a movie, or a TV show, I am good at spotting things others miss, like the transition from day to evening in a freeze scene, or an extra doing something extra goofy...
-Learning is a passion of mine. I don't really mean from books... reading is great, but... I prefer to learn from experience. I love to teach myself how to make things work, or how to create something... I taught myself how to use Photoshop with very few tutorials, and could probably walk into a school and have a good idea of what was going on.
-I am very loyal. If someone tells me a secret, I will not let it out. I don't gossip or stab people in the back.

¤What do you think are your top five weaknesses or worst qualities?
-I have a hard time meeting people for the first time. Online, it's not a problem, but face to face, I freeze up. I can never think of anything to say, and I have a difficult time keeping a conversation going, which makes it hard to have them.
-I prepare for the worst. I don't mean in a pessimistic 'every thing's horrible' kind of way... I just mean that I look for possible negative outcomes, so just in case that happens, I will be prepared. The main downside to that is that I am focusing more on the bad that -could- happen, instead of the good that -is- happening, so it's hard for me to relax and have a good time.
-I am very picky about incredibly stupid things [probably a little OCD... eh!]. I like my laundry washed and folded very specifically. My dishes have to be taken out of the sink before I can wash them, and I always have to keep certain surfaces spotless. But not the ones that make sense. Instead of making sure my computer table is good, I make sure the bookshelf is alphabetical... etc.
-I get overly jealous, way too easily. I don't think I'm going to go into detail about this one... I just.. uh... am dumb about it. ^_^
-I can do the same thing over and over, for a very long time. I guess this really isn't a fault... but I have now read the HP books about... 13 times each, [the first one waay more than that] His Dark Materials I have read through 4 times, Tamora Pierce books I have read 3 times... while all my other books in the shelf lay there and get dusty. I will start one book, and it will remind me of something in another book, so I'll go look it up in that other book, and then start reading that instead... it's -crazy- I'm almost halfway through so many books. lol.

What would you see in the Mirror of Erised?
I would be successful, and look the part. I would be respected for my intelligence and strength, instead of looked at as too young, or ditsy. [grr] I'm naturally blonde, but I hate it, and would love to have brown hair.. so I'm sure that would be there. I would be obviously happy, probably married, probably to my current boyfriend, because I would love that. I would have a few very close friends, and a many acquaintances that are good enough friends that i could call up any time and hang out. It would show me traveling, getting ready to, or coming back... with many experiences to add to my memories.

Pick one or two canon qualities from each of the four houses that you possess and explain why you picked them:
Slytherin: Resourceful- I like to create things out of other things... I tend to take around-the-house items and turn them into storage, or some kind of organization... thing... I also tend to hear people say something, or see something written a specific way, and like the way it sounds... and I'll change it to my own wording... and use it. >_>
Persuasive- I'm really good at getting my way... and a lot of time people won't realize what they have done until it's already happened.
Ravenclaw: Witty- I make a lot of side comments when I listen in on conversations... They are usually only meant for a few people in the conversation, but they're usually pretty great. or... at least... i think so... :P
Creative- As I said above, I like to make things out of other things... I also love to draw, knit, paint, sew... I've recently gotten really into Photoshop, and I'm doing pretty great with it so far. ;)
Hufflepuff: Generous- The way I show my affection for people is by giving gifts... or sharing my food, even if it's my favorite thing. Not quite enough to call it selfless, but... I do things for people because it makes me feel good about myself. :)
Hard Working- I've been the youngest in just about everything I've done for a while. I was a year ahead in school, so i was a year younger than everyone, I'm the youngest of three daughters, and at work, everyone I work with is at least 3 years older than I am. I've always wanted to stand out... to be the best... and it's hard to do that without hard work. [it's frustrating though, when no one notices. :\]
Gryffindor: Genuine I don't hide who I am from my friends. When i first get to know someone, I might sensor myself until I know how they will react, but... I don't have two faces. I don't have ulterior motives... once you know me, it's me you know... not some fake-out.
Cheerful. Pretty straightforward on this one... I prefer to be happy and upbeat, to being mopey and blah. It makes me feel better, and it makes the people around me seem happy too!
Explain why you feel misplaced in your current house: I can't quite put my finger on it... I really enjoy being able to say that I am in Slytherin... It makes me feel kind of like a bad ass... But... I just don't feel like I belong.. There's not really one specific thing... I just... Guh. It's infuriating that i can't put my finger on it. I guess a lot of it is that.. As amazing and awesome as the people are... I don't feel quite like we click... :\ I fail.

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What would you say is the single most important problem facing the world today?

What is the one single thing you are most passionate about in your life?

Pick a quote/lyric that you feel is one of the mottos of your life, and explain why you feel that way.

What would you say is the single most important problem facing the world today?
Global warming. For sure. So few people seem to realize what it is doing to us and our beautiful planet, or if they do realize, they don't care. The signs are everywhere, and it's so unfortunate to think that within the next generation, maybe two, if we don't do something soon, everything [or... most things] that are such an amazing part of this planet [snow capped mountains, glaciers, animals that live in the cold areas, et all] won't be here...

What is the one single thing you are most passionate about in your life?
I think that this is something that changes for me every few years... I guess that is the same for just about everyone... but for the present, I would have to say learning. I graduated High School in 2006, and haven't done anything since... For the past year or so, I have been... Pining, almost, to go back and start learning again. I don't really care what it is that I am learning, I slacked off in High School, but I'm really starting to wish I could go back and re-do at least the last two of those years... I already consider myself to be intelligent... maybe not the top of my class, but... I have good common sense, and a basic understanding for the function of most things... if I had paid attention and believed in myself more in High School [I had very low self esteem] I feel that I could be in a -very- good college, doing what I want to be doing, and learning about all the fascinating bits and pieces to the world.

Pick a quote/lyric that you feel is one of the mottos of your life, and explain why you feel that way.
I hope you know that you just made me search through my iTunes library for almost an hour... haha. This is one of the hardest things I think I could answer... I guess... Just because it's helped me through a lot, I would have to go with Jimmy Eat World's song The Middle
the line "It just takes some time, Little girl you're in the middle of the ride, everything, everything will be just fine, everything, everything will be alright."
It's kind of cheesy... but as I said, in High School, I had really low self esteem, and every so often, when I was feeling particularly down, that song would come on the radio, or be in a store I walked into, just... randomly show up, and I would hear it, and it would lift my spirits so much... really just because of the timing, but... it always seemed to happen at the perfect time.. I would lift myself back up, and keep trying...

Couple of follow-up questions:

You say global warming is the biggest problem. How would you recommend spreading awareness of this issue? And what are some steps you would recommend that individuals/communities/companys/nations/etc take to change this? (very big questions, sorry, but i'm just curious what your solutions are)

And btw, i'd totally go through my iTunes library with that question. I love song lyrics. XD They're so helpful.

I think that the best way to spread awareness is to get people to realize what's going on, and how it's going to affect not just the future, but it is going to affect us right now, in the present. If enough big companies, or even enough smaller companies make a point to get people aware, currently, I think television would be the best way to do this, [unfortunately, especially in the US] maybe it would open peoples eyes. I’m sure not everyone would care, but… you can’t make them, just give them access to the information if they do want it.
I think the best thing individuals can do is recycle, conserve energy, and not waste water. I know driving less would be a good idea too, but in a lot of areas, that is a hard thing to get done... Humans are very wasteful. I don't know so much about other countries, but I know in the US, we have so much that just gets thrown away with no thought to what kind of impact it will have. Landfills keep getting bigger, which poisons our water and earth... if every person just made the effort to do a few very simple things, we'd start the process. As far as energy, people don't need to live in a huge house where every room is exactly 69 degrees in the summer, and 75 in the winter. Yes, that is more comfortable, but it is completely unnecessary. keep windows and doors closed when the air or heat is on, close doors to rooms that are not being used, use fans to distribute the air throughout the rooms that are being used... all of these things would help so much, and, an added bonus! It's way cheaper!

Communities should have free programs to recycle thigns that can be recycled. I grew up in a city where there were garbage trucks and recycling trucks. there was no extra fee you had to pay, aside from what was taken out of taxes, but I have always though that it was such a good idea. I guess I'm really pushing recycling here, but I do think that it would help a lot. I think that it would also be a great idea to have a cheap, or even free transportation in major cities. I know a lot of countries in Europe have things like that, but there are so few here in the US. My mom lives in a small town in Colorado, and they have a bus system that is completely free. The city keeps it clean so it's not a horrible experience to go on, and it's so convenint, all you have to do is get to a bus stop, which are just about everywhere in the city.

Companies could stop using so much packaging for products. Or at least use some material [something biodegradable] aside from plastic for the packaging. Companies who sell water bottles should use glass bottles instead of plastic, and have some kind of system that the customers can give the bottles back to the store for a dollar or something and they can sanitize them and reuse them, instead of all the crazy amounts of waste that comes from bottled water. Offices should do recycling as well. I am sure my office throws away thousands of papers a week, which is so awful for me to think about... [I really like recycling, in case you can't tell. lol]

I think Nations should try to make their citizens more aware of the problem. They should help cities fund programs like I mentioned above in an attempt to lessen the horrible amounts of waste and all that...

I guess my idea of the biggest problem is more polution than global warming, but I feel that they go hand in hand... :\

I have a follow-up question from this string of thought if it's alright:

If you are pining to go back to school, what has been stopping you from going back? You mentioned you don't care what you are learning. Are there things you specifically curious about that might tip the scales to you going back to school. What have you been doing to prepare for this?

The main reason I haven't gone back is money... My dad is planning on helping me pay for college, but he is reluctant to pay for it if it's more expensive... so I'm trying to save some money up so I can get into a better school based more on what I want to major in, instead of the community college where I would be learning, but the quality and the direction of the classes don't meet very good standards, or the direction I'm planning on going.
Since I have been waiting, I have been doing a bit of 'self-teaching' for things like Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel, and I'm trying to re-learn math...[i've almost completely forgotten how to do anything math related... it's terrible]
I want to go to school for Graphic Design, so the Adobe Photoshop is really getting me prepared for that, I think... I am learning a lot about the program and all the tools, what they do, etc. As far as MS Excel, I just think that's a good skill to be able to put on a resume.... :)

excellent. i figured it was like this, but i just wanted to be clear. thanks for the explanation.

and btw, i'm a graphic designer that's been in the field for 11 years, so if you ever needed any advice or needed books for me to recommend, just let me know and i'd be more than happy to point the way.

:)
I'll keep that in mind. thank you!!