http://users.livejournal.com/lost_in_dreamz_/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
http://users.livejournal.com/lost_in_dreamz_/) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hih_appeals2008-12-22 05:16 pm
http://users.livejournal.com/lost_in_dreamz_/) wrote in hih_appeals2008-12-22 05:16 pm
Entry tags:
(Re)Sorting and Cavorting
Name: Allie
Age: 23
House you were sorted into: Hufflepuff
Link to original application: http://community.livejournal.com/platform_934/687052.html#cutid1
Are there any questions you would like to elaborate on?
What HP character do you identify with most and why?
1) Luna. When I was in high school, I was pretty alienated from my peers, but I was known as "Optimist Allie" because I always maintained such a bright outlook. I can be pretty dreamy and spacey at times too. I'm a very unique person, with a strange manner of speaking and thinking. I'm always accused of being weird and strange, but its usually in an affectionate way. Like her fantastical animals, I believe in things others don't. I've seen ghosts. Experienced [what I believe] to be e.s.p. and prophetic dreams. I keep it quiet because people will think I'm crazy, but I wholeheartedly think things are out there beyond accepted science. I overly-decorate and paint, even having once done a mural of my friends similar to hers in DH.
2) Neville - In the past, others tended to underestimate me. I'm chubby and awkward. I was pretty unsure of myself in adolescence, but once I got older, I found a great spirit/person within. Like Neville in OOtP, in college I developed a penchant for adventure and refusing to let anyone hold me back. Now I'm known as the girl with all the crazy stories. In Philosopher's Stone when he stood up to the trio and tried to prevent them from doing [what he thought was] something really stupid - that was so me at the start of college. And by the end, I was one of the ones in the thick of all the stupid adventures.
3) Hermione - I crave knowledge and research everything. I spend more time in the library than my apartment and eagerly raise my hand in class when no one else will. People think I'm impressively smart, at least academically (street smarts are something else entirely). I inadvertently tutored half my class before exams this semester. I'm extremely passionate about equal rights and politics. I like to say 'I told you so.' Quote Wikipedia like 'Hogwarts, a History'. Frivolous flirty girls like Lavender annoy the hell out of me. I have a history of falling for my best guy friends. And I have the emotional range of several billion teaspoons.
4) Lupin - I'm a sensitive soul and the one people go to for advice. Supposedly I give amazing advice because I can put myself inside of others and really understand them. I see this as a hallmark Lupin quality. I've always considered myself lucky to be a part of the cool kids in college who included me in their circle of friends, and cherished every second of it as he did with James and Sirius.
5) Ron - I adore Ron. But he seems to represent the very worst qualities in me. We both have a huge capacity for jealousy and resentment towards our friends for having what we don't, and wanting what they do have. I don't hold grudges like he does, and internalize these feelings, but the jealousy and resentment is there all the same. I can be incredibly snarky, cynical, and sarcastic. Plus, we both love food way too much
What was your ideal job as a kid? Has that changed? What is your ideal job now?
Sporadically throughout my life, I've wanted to be a teacher. I taught part-time in college and loved it, but I never planned to continue teaching as a career. For a time I wanted to be a Marine Biologist, exploring the oceans and studying/discovering new sea creatures. Then I wanted to be a Pediatric Oncologist, kicking cancer's ass and saving kids' lives. In high school I had grand dreams of becoming a Journalist, and... a lot of other stuff. I've always secretly had great aspirations to be a detective, like Nancy Drew or Agent Scully or a secret agent like Sydney Bristow. There's rumored spy intrigue in my family a few generations back and I think it would be glorious to carry that craft - but I am not the spy type unfortunately. For now, I'm planning to be a lawyer, concentrating in Health, Education, or Family Law. I have a grand notion of being able to change people's lives for the better by devoting my life to law; making a lot of money and earning intellectual cred while doing so. Becoming a writer is a dream of mine too, and something many people have told me to pursue.
If you were to face a boggart, what would it turn into? And what does it turn into when you throw the counter-spell, Riddikulus?
Quite simply, emptiness and darkness, lost in a deep and endless wood - representing a future of personal failure, loneliness, and misdirection. On riddikulus, the woods would clear and I'd find myself on a gorgeous tropical island beach with snorkeling equipment. And a boat (with an awesome GPS) so that I could find my way back whenever I wished. Or use it to explore the world.
What would you see in the Mirror of Erised? Right now? It would be my law school graduation. I'd be graduating at the top of my class and giving the commencement speech (at a healthy weight!). Up at the podium with me would be two envelopes: one with an offer to work for a prestigious public interest law firm and the other with tickets to spend the summer traveling around the world. Out in the audience would be my whole family, friends cheering me on, and *maybe* a dorky yet successful boyfriend.
What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
*Adding a sixth* My Uniqueness. I've never been like other people my age and I've never tried to be. I'm a dreamer. I tend to think differently and talk differently and just - perceive life differently. I've never looked like my peers, nor do I strive to. I have my own unique sense of attractiveness. I have a personal moral code, an individual way of viewing life and others, and a vivid imagination. I'm one of those people that's often lost in my own little daydream, but totally aware and sharp as soon as I get back to reality. And I can be the most cynical or most idealistic person in the world depending on the circumstances. I'm a contradiction like that. People who know me IRL think I'm weird or strange. And they tell me this. But they always say it like its a good thing, something they not only respect, but are incredibly amused by. I'm memorable - I leave an impression on people. I always have and probably always will.
Pick one or two canon qualities from each of the four houses that you possess and explain why you picked them:
Hufflepuff - My family and friends are hugely important in my life. Too important sometimes, to be honest, and in the past my capacity for caring has been a huge detriment in my life. I'm also immensely loyal, empathetic, and passionate about equality and justice. I've actually developed a reputation among my fellow classmates for taking up the defense anytime I hear anyone saying anything bad about someone else. I just can't help it. Even when its behind their back, I can't deal with hearing people speak badly of another without speaking up for them and trying to justify who they are or what they did (even when there isn't much basis for it). And when I happen to spew word vomit of my own, I counteract it by reciting [a lot of] nice things about the person or I feel terrible about it for days.
Ravenclaw - Along with being a dork who loves nothing more than mythology dense entertainment that leaves my brain spinning, I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and learning. I'm determined to remain wrapped up in academia for as long as possible. I worked for a year without being in school, and it felt like my livelihood was withering away. Learning gets me high. I'll have marathon study sessions in the library, explain concepts to half the people in my class, and come home on top of the world, completely energized by the knowledge influx. I had FUN taking my law school exams this year. I'm also a creative soul - art is a huge part of my life. Whenever I have free time, I'm drawing or reading, singing or writing - I'm a creator and a dreamer - my mind never stops. If I'm not learning, I'm creating; or letting my imagination go wild.
Gryffindor - I'm deeply passionate about pretty much everything. I have strong convictions about politics, progressiveness, and equality. It takes very little to excite me. I'm known for being a fierce storyteller, partly because of the infinite crazy situations I find myself in that I can always twist into a great tale, along with a pretty good sense of humor. And I have a rambunctiously adventurous inner-imp that doesn't get to play nearly enough. Leadership is another quality I've always prided myself in but I think that's a trait shared pretty equally with Slytherin. I was president of my class in undergrad, house president, an SGA rep, etc. And, as I stated before, I have a habit for defending people, even against the majority. (I tend to be far better at sticking up for others than myself). I have quite a hero complex and delusions of grandeur. There's that whole secretly wanting to be an FBI/CIAagent/Spy so I can save the world on a regular basis. I want to be a lawyer in part because I honestly believe I can save the world one person at a time.
Slytherin - A lot of people don't know it, but I can be incredibly manipulative. I have a knack for getting what I want. And when things aren't in my favor, I can usually change the facts to make it so. I don't take it well when I don't get my way. My knack for twisting things is part of why my family always said I'd be a good lawyer. I'm a bit of a politician. I choose my words wisely when I speak [on important matters] and calculate exactly what needs to be conveyed without obvious bias. I'm also pretty ambitious, which is why I chose to pursue law to help people, as opposed to a career of lesser standing but that would be just as beneficial to others in the long run. I want to help people, but being respected, challenged, and financially well-off are pretty equally important to me. This goes along with the fact that I'm (ashamedly) an intellectual elitist who has a horrible tendency to equate one's worth with the degrees they hold.
Explain why you feel misplaced in your current house:
I haven't developed any real affinity or bond with anyone in my house, though I've befriended people from nearly every other one. I just - feel that perhaps our priorities aren't necessarily on par? I'm very future/academia driven right now, and it seems a majority of my housemates are a bit more family/romance goal based. That's a mass generalization certainly. Perhaps its hard to pinpoint one main thing - its just the very clear feeling that I don't fit quite right.
I think, the main thing, is that my puff traits are very much who I am - but not who I strive to be, nor what I hold as great deal of importance in my life. I come from a family of puffs. My mom, my dad - they live for other people. I was raised in an environment where friends/family/others are held to the utmost ideal. I know when I begin my career, I want to work to help people. Because that's just who I am. But I've always strived to be more than that.
My personal priorities and goals, that which I constantly work towards, lie in academia, creativity, and adventure. I've always been inclined towards introversion. I keep to myself unless others seek me out. I'm more comfortable spending Saturday nights researching or reading or drawing by myself, than out at a party with people. I have a hard time trusting people or letting them into my world. And I often feel lonelier around others than by myself, except when with the closest of my friends. My mind, creativity, and dreams have always been my greatest and most loyal companions. And academia, has always been my greatest love. I get high from class. Never stop talking about the new things I've learned. Have to show it off to everyone. Last year, when I took the year off from school. I had great people around, my family was there. But I had no intellect in my life. The work was mundane and unchallenging, and I was MISERABLE. My life, without a level of academic or intellectual rigor, feels empty. But of course, I never stop daydreaming about being off on some crazy adventure or traveling around the world.
I guess, to sum, I am a person who has always been raised to hold others at an ideal, and to devote my life to helping them. But my loves, passions, and hobbies rise above that; constantly striving for and pushing myself towards academia and learning, while dreaming of daring adventures and intrigue.
Since I was first sorted, I've settled into a completely new life. I've moved from home, started law school, become a far more independent person than I was a few months ago. I feel as if I've really settled into a clearer sense of who I am, and I'd like to see this reflected in sorting. On my initial application, I had a majority of Puff votes, but a significant number of Claw and Dor too - It was about 40-30-30. I'm curious to see if this internal trait ratio has changed at all.
no subject
*I haven't had a chance to write up the Ravenclaw portion of this. I will do so asap, hopefully tomorrow*
Gryffindor To me, being a Gryffindor is about passion, boldness, and daring. I have boundless amounts of the first, an unfortunate lack of the latter, and a varying amount of the middle. I've always been an incredibly passionate person. I get enormously excited over the smallest and most random things - from the first clap of thunder in the spring/summer to finding an oddly shaped pad of paper. I dive into experiences. There are few things I enjoy more than the rush of a live concert, play, or gliding on top of a wave. I have a great appreciation for life. I approach everything I experience as a story of sorts, and because of that, I'm known for telling great tales. People tend to think all sorts of crazy things happen to me, but really my life is as mundane as the rest - I just present things with exuberance, enthusiasm, and zest that other people wouldn't necessarily think twice about. Because of that, I'm frequently told I'm funny and entertaining, along with amusing - which goes hand in hand with my quirkiness. I take pride in following my own path, which is where boldness comes in. Trends and normalcy just really irk me. I've always done my own thing, and when that aligns with others - great - but I've never let it bother me when it doesn't. I'm quiet to those who don't know me, but around friends I never shut up. I ramble a lot because I hate awkward silences and never know how to end conversations. Even in class, I’m the one who’ll always raise my hand when no one else will, as the silence and blank stares are unbearable to me. I used to be an editorial writer, because I have incredibly strong opinions. Not necessarily about important matters - when it comes to big issues I always weigh all sides and try to keep an open mind to everyone's opinion. But about stupid things, like popular culture or modern trends that I don't agree with - I can rant for weeks. I typically don't though, which goes with my utter lack of daring - the core Gryff trait I feel I really lack. I'm quite an avoidant person. I hate conflict (yeah, I'm studying to be a lawyer but I hate conflict, its rather ironic). I shudder at the thought of hurting or offending someone (not that it doesn't happen, it seems to follow even when totally unintended on occasion, but then I feel terrible about it and obsess for days). I tend to hide away from things I'm afraid of and completely withdrawal into books or tv or the net until I have no choice but to face them (which I always do eventually). I hold back personal input in discussions, be it class or debates with friends, because I think everything out so much that the opportunity is often lost before I can ever speak up. And I don't speak up sooner, because I'm never willing to put my intellect on the line unless I absolutely know I'm right. The thing is, I'm much more thought than action oriented. I have grand dreams of exploring the world. But when I had the chance to visit a friend who was teaching in Spain, I overthought it and overthought it, until I convinced myself that it was a terrible idea. I rationalized this with money concerns, and language barriers, and personal responsibilities. But I've regretted it ever since, and I think a pure Gryff would have hopped on the plane without question, and loved every second of the trip without any hangups. I'm also incredibly shy around strangers/new people until they first open up to me. I just don't know how to connect with people unless they make the first attempt. Small talk is a lost art to me, another thing which I think would come naturally to Gryffs. On the Gryffindor plus side, again, however, I’ve always had a grand hero complex. I’m in law school to help people, and I truly believe by making a positive difference in someone’s life, its one step closer to saving the world. And, in my inner-fantasy world, I’ve saved the world a thousand times over.
no subject
Hagrid Rowling has stated that Hagrid was a Gryffindor. These traits are fairly obvious. He’s quite brave, dealing with dangerous creatures, disregarding rules (like doing magic with his umbrella/snapped wand), and going through life incredibly different from others and not seeming to think twice about it, except when his Giantness became an issue in OotP. But I also see a lot of Puff in him. He loves all creatures. No matter how scary or grotesque, they all have a place in his heart. And he has a huge depth of caring for those in his life. We see this in the first chapters with his sobbing over the Potter’s death and the situation at hand, and this love surrounds his character throughout the series. Thus, because of his huge heart and capacity for loving all creatures, I see Hagrid as a lovely Puff.
Cho Chang I never really got a good grasp of Cho in the books. We saw her through Harry’s eyes, as an idealized and then fallen love interest, in contrast to a complete person. I’ll have to say Gryffindor, I guess, as she seemed consistently drawn to the limelight. Quidditch team member, love interest of the great and popular, described as always surrounded by giggling girls – this points to the lion for me. She was also an active member of the DA until the very end. And she had a lot of mood swings, understandable given Cedric’s death, but this wide range and shift of moods is another trait I’ve always associated with Gryff passion.
no subject
Gryffindor andRavenclaw, and why you wouldn't belong in those two houses?Ravenclaw. I've always viewed Ravenclaw and Gryffindor as polar opposites to an extent. At their most oversimplified, Gryff is all about action and passion for life, while Claw is routed in introspection and the pursuit of learning/creativity. Based upon this, I feel I am much more aligned with Ravenclaw. My mind is never not in overdrive. I can't take anything at face value. I can't have people just tell me what is, I need to discover it for myself - from improvising recipes and directions, to forming my own ideals of spirituality over organized religion. Even popular culture trends are something I constantly seek to analyze and gain a deeper understanding of (though I can also be incredibly snarky towards them). I constantly search out trends, patterns, and symbols in everything in my life, along with structuring and labeling them. And I have an extensive mental list of all that I want to try in life. Sometimes, engaging in things just so I can cross it off of my personal list. As touched upon in my Gryff discussion, I typically over-analyze before acting, and it often holds me back. Even simple things like composing an email can take me hours, because I plan it in my mind and then revise over and over. I feel incredibly uncomfortable doing things I haven't yet planned. Even my most crazy adventures were usually well-plotted in advance. Otherwise, I'm constantly second guessing it. Not myself necessarily, but all the possible outcomes good and bad. Aligned with the over-analysis, my mind constantly needs to be stimulated. I'm incredibly picky on my sources of entertainment. It has to engage me. I can't sit through chick flicks (unless exceptionally written) or most pop songs. If there's not a complicated storyline or deep lyrics it just forces my mind everywhere but there and I go into daydream or over-analytical mode. And when it comes to mysteries or intrigue, I'm well-known for being able to figure out the end or plot twist long before most others. (Though don't ask me about Lost, that show has me completely perplexed - and captivated!) Of course - introspection is only a small part of [what I believe to be] a Ravenclaw. Not necessarily smarts, but intellectualism and a thirst for knowledge seem to be integral traits. I love researching - just finding out everything there is to know about a random topic and using all of the little trivia I pick up. I get high from academia and intense discussions. Getting lost in a good book is perhaps my favorite thing in the world (along with live theater). I've been known to go without food or sleep or any remote interpersonal communication from the start to completion of a book that captures me. Creativity is another great love in my life, and another trait that I feel is embodied in Claws. My wall is covered in my sketches and photographs. I've won several creative writing awards throughout my academic career. And I've created epic worlds in my daydreams. Unless its with select close friends, I'm much happier spending my weekends reading/writing/drawing than at a party, and am far more comfortable in a library/museum/theater than a bar. As I've mentioned, I'm a very quirky person. I have my own way of speaking, quite different from my writing style actually. And I tend to view problems in different ways than others, examining situations and disputes from all angles, both sympathetically and rationally, even if I have very strong opinions of my own towards the issue.
no subject