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Unity: Making the most of HOL
Adelline Aldridge (Hufflepuff)

At the beginning of our first year, when we take the HOL sorting test, which places us into one of the four HOL Houses, most of us seem to have a preference for the house we wish to see in big bold letters at the end. Although the majority of HOLers seem to get the house they'd wanted, many are sorted into houses that had not struck them as appealing in the slightest. Some of these members end up switching out by means of ‘squibbing’, while others don’t really mind and make the best of it. Some even grow to think theirs is the best house after all. Just because you don’t get the house that you wanted, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your new house.

First-year Brittain Welles from Ravenclaw wanted to be in Gryffindor at first, but she seems to be getting along just fine now. “I'm happy in [Ravenclaw] now, and now that I've had time to think about it, I think it suits me. I'd still like to be a Gryffindor, but now I think if I had to choose again, judging by my personality, I'd say either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.” So really, she ended up deciding that she was best off in two of the houses that she didn’t want in the beginning.

What we need to understand is that with houses comes unity. Now, what is unity anyway? What makes us all unique and what makes us all different? Of this I don’t think it is possible to be sure, as it is not even researchable as to what makes a person themselves; it would be foolish to think so. But what we do know is that HOL is an extremely diverse group of people, so it is only fitting that we look at the Hogwarts Houses from the book’s viewpoint and see how well it can relate to HOL through understanding why people like the houses they do.

Unity has been a lasting theme and a main plot goal in the Harry Potter books since the very first one hit the shelves. In fact, The Sorting Hat even sings about it in the fourth installation to the series! It makes one wonder: if working together is so powerful, then why does it have to be so difficult for the different houses in the books to merge as one? Well, firstly, one would argue that everyone will never agree. It’s just one of those facts of life. But if you really think about it, unity isn’t about agreeing all the time. As Nearly Headless Nick points out in Goblet of Fire, the key to unity is only peaceful cooperation. One may take this, in short, as having the simple desire to get along. It suggests that acting with respect and kindness may take us further than we would ever think. Judging by this, I would say that the matter of cooperation between houses comes down to attitude. If you go into something thinking that it's horrible, that you'll hate it, and that you'd rather do anything else, your opinion will most likely not change from that in the end. However, if you approach something with a bright and optimistic stand-point, and make the most out of everything by seizing every opportunity, you'll probably feel the same way in the end as you did at first. In short, the way you expect something to turn out is probably how it will end up being.

By looking at the similarities between each house, we can see all that makes us alike. Now, obviously, the houses are all very different, each with a variety of separate traits. However, there are certain similarities that help create one giant community instead of four solitary houses. For example, Gryffindor isn’t necessarily all that different from Hufflepuff. They are both rather genial and welcoming towards others and both have a good sense of humor and fun. Not to mention, Hufflepuff definitely had their share of brave members (Cedric Diggory, for example). Both don’t rely on logic so much as instinct, quite unlike members of Ravenclaw and Slytherin. As such, Ravenclaw and Slytherin are alike in that they are very motivated to get things done, and to be good at what they do. They rely on thinking for answers, rather than just following messages from their hearts. In fact, even Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, have common traits. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are both willing to work hard in classes and other aspects of their lives, and Badgers and Eagles can both be reasonably dedicated. As for Gryffindor and Slytherin, they are both strong, active and slightly hot-headed, and they both sometimes have a certain disregard for the rules.

Therefore, if we put all this information together, we can observe that every house is generally connected through certain values that are associated with another “rival” house. This is not to say, however, that we are all one in the same. We may have similar goals, but the way they are approached by members of each house is very different. For one, Ravenclaw and Slytherin may both be determined to be the best in what they do, but Ravenclaws do it out of study and practice, whereas Slytherins tend to go by trickery and hard-play. Also, Hufflepuffs are willing to work hard, as do Ravenclaws, but a Hufflepuff's will mainly comes from passion and dedication, while a Ravenclaw's is more from an inner need to succeed.

As you can see, attitude plays a major role in all the houses' characters and actions. Attitude, above all else, seems to dictate which house a person will be sorted into and how much they will enjoy or dislike that house. In order to have a good time in the house you were sorted into at HOL, you have to accept the house you are in, and there isn’t much you can do to change it (besides squibbing, which really doesn’t sound too fun). If you try, and really let yourself have a fun time, the chances are pretty high that you'll succeed. If you get sorted into Gryffindor and you wanted to be a Slytherin, instead of moping around or planning your next break-in of the Slytherin common room, you should take a look at the people around you. Maybe, just maybe, you could grow to like your house. But that will only happen if you want it to. Agree to disagree, and understand that if you really took the sorting test for how you truly are and would act in those situations, then there has to be a reason why you are there. Remember: you were not put there randomly!

Most of the time, a little opening of one’s mind can go a long way. Many problems could be solved if people just stepped into each other’s shoes to understand them for who they really are and respect them for it. If we all took this one step in attitude change, the entire community could benefit. The strong feeling of friendship is the key to what makes HOL so enjoyable. Besides, what is a rainbow without all of its colors?

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Notes The Alte Sententiam is Ravenclaw's running newspaper. Alte Sententiam means 'Higher Thoughts' and its current co-editors-in-chief are Chloe Fairchilde and Cassandra Lobiesk. Articles Unity: Making the Most of HOL Easton's Everyday Eats Scientifics Stone Into Gold Why is the Sky Blue? Reviews The Deathly Hallows Order of the Phoenix Hana Kimi Columns Cassie's Cranky Corner Addie-vice Column Showcase For Thee Golden Rule Days Sorting Hat Song Puzzles Wordsearch Info Updates Archives FAQ Staff The Roost HOL Points The points breakdown is as follows (per issue): Article Submission: 10 points for each published (not to exceed 20) Graphics Submission: 10 points for each published (not to exceed 20) Editors: Up to 30 points	Articles Unity: Making the most of HOL Adelline Aldridge (Hufflepuff) At the beginning of our first year, when we take the HOL sorting test, which places us into one of the four HOL Houses, most of us seem to have a preference for the house we wish to see in big bold letters at the end. Although the majority of HOLers seem to get the house they'd wanted, many are sorted into houses that had not struck them as appealing in the slightest. Some of these members end up switching out by means of ‘squibbing’, while others don’t really mind and make the best of it. Some even grow to think theirs is the best house after all. Just because you don’t get the house that you wanted, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your new house. First-year Brittain Welles from Ravenclaw wanted to be in Gryffindor at first, but she seems to be getting along just fine now. “I'm happy in [Ravenclaw] now, and now that I've had time to think about it, I think it suits me. I'd still like to be a Gryffindor, but now I think if I had to choose again, judging by my personality, I'd say either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.” So really, she ended up deciding that she was best off in two of the houses that she didn’t want in the beginning. What we need to understand is that with houses comes unity. Now, what is unity anyway? What makes us all unique and what makes us all different? Of this I don’t think it is possible to be sure, as it is not even researchable as to what makes a person themselves; it would be foolish to think so. But what we do know is that HOL is an extremely diverse group of people, so it is only fitting that we look at the Hogwarts Houses from the book’s viewpoint and see how well it can relate to HOL through understanding why people like the houses they do. Unity has been a lasting theme and a main plot goal in the Harry Potter books since the very first one hit the shelves. In fact, The Sorting Hat even sings about it in the fourth installation to the series! It makes one wonder: if working together is so powerful, then why does it have to be so difficult for the different houses in the books to merge as one? Well, firstly, one would argue that everyone will never agree. It’s just one of those facts of life. But if you really think about it, unity isn’t about agreeing all the time. As Nearly Headless Nick points out in Goblet of Fire, the key to unity is only peaceful cooperation. One may take this, in short, as having the simple desire to get along. It suggests that acting with respect and kindness may take us further than we would ever think. Judging by this, I would say that the matter of cooperation between houses comes down to attitude. If you go into something thinking that it's horrible, that you'll hate it, and that you'd rather do anything else, your opinion will most likely not change from that in the end. However, if you approach something with a bright and optimistic stand-point, and make the most out of everything by seizing every opportunity, you'll probably feel the same way in the end as you did at first. In short, the way you expect something to turn out is probably how it will end up being. By looking at the similarities between each house, we can see all that makes us alike. Now, obviously, the houses are all very different, each with a variety of separate traits. However, there are certain similarities that help create one giant community instead of four solitary houses. For example, Gryffindor isn’t necessarily all that different from Hufflepuff. They are both rather genial and welcoming towards others and both have a good sense of humor and fun. Not to mention, Hufflepuff definitely had their share of brave members (Cedric Diggory, for example). Both don’t rely on logic so much as instinct, quite unlike members of Ravenclaw and Slytherin. As such, Ravenclaw and Slytherin are alike in that they are very motivated to get things done, and to be good at what they do. They rely on thinking for answers, rather than just following messages from their hearts. In fact, even Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, have common traits. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are both willing to work hard in classes and other aspects of their lives, and Badgers and Eagles can both be reasonably dedicated. As for Gryffindor and Slytherin, they are both strong, active and slightly hot-headed, and they both sometimes have a certain disregard for the rules. Therefore, if we put all this information together, we can observe that every house is generally connected through certain values that are associated with another “rival” house. This is not to say, however, that we are all one in the same. We may have similar goals, but the way they are approached by members of each house is very different. For one, Ravenclaw and Slytherin may both be determined to be the best in what they do, but Ravenclaws do it out of study and practice, whereas Slytherins tend to go by trickery and hard-play. Also, Hufflepuffs are willing to work hard, as do Ravenclaws, but a Hufflepuff's will mainly comes from passion and dedication, while a Ravenclaw's is more from an inner need to succeed. As you can see, attitude plays a major role in all the houses' characters and actions. Attitude, above all else, seems to dictate which house a person will be sorted into and how much they will enjoy or dislike that house. In order to have a good time in the house you were sorted into at HOL, you have to accept the house you are in, and there isn’t much you can do to change it (besides squibbing, which really doesn’t sound too fun). If you try, and really let yourself have a fun time, the chances are pretty high that you'll succeed. If you get sorted into Gryffindor and you wanted to be a Slytherin, instead of moping around or planning your next break-in of the Slytherin common room, you should take a look at the people around you. Maybe, just maybe, you could grow to like your house. But that will only happen if you want it to. Agree to disagree, and understand that if you really took the sorting test for how you truly are and would act in those situations, then there has to be a reason why you are there. Remember: you were not put there randomly! Most of the time, a little opening of one’s mind can go a long way. Many problems could be solved if people just stepped into each other’s shoes to understand them for who they really are and respect them for it. If we all took this one step in attitude change, the entire community could benefit. The strong feeling of friendship is the key to what makes HOL so enjoyable. Besides, what is a rainbow without all of its colors?