I think I'll vlog about this soon, but I sort of want to organize my thoughts on the matter first. SO. You know, we say "welp" because it ends up sounding that way in the right tone. I think I'm going to start SOPE.
Got meself all Sorted the other day. Ravenclaw! Admittedly, I was not expecting that. As I was answering the questions, I actually said to Mike and Emily, "Guys, I'm SUCH a Hufflepuff." My answers were things like, I'd want to talk to animals, and I want to be known for being GOOD. Huffin' and puffin' all over the place, so I thought.
The thing is, I was never SURE where I belonged. I liked the idea of being in Gryffindor because I wanted to feel like I could be brave when I needed to be, but I was never fully sure I would be; frankly, I've never really had an occasion where I NEEDED to be all that brave (medical procedures, auditions, all seem like small change in the realm of things that require actual bravery). I didn't feel ambitious (at least not willing to step on others) enough for Slytherin. I knew I wasn't smart enough to belong to Ravenclaw. I professed myself as a Gryffindor but not-so-secretly placed myself truly in Hufflepuff, because I didn't feel like I had the qualities required for the other Houses. Hufflepuffs have awesome qualities that I felt justified in claiming (loyalty, fairness, hard work).
So J.K. put me in Ravenclaw. I think I'm the Neville of Ravenclaw in that I sort of sat there thinking, "No no no, don't put me here! I can't live up to this House's reputation! Just put me somewhere else." But the thing is, Jo wrote the test herself. If anyone knows what they're talking about on the subject, it's her. And if the very Founder of the House(s) thinks I belong there, I guess I sort of have to believe her =]
The other facet of this is that Houses are in shades of grey. There are people who have been Sorted who are like, "Gryffindor? I'm totally a Ravenclaw!" "Slytherin? I'm totally a Hufflepuff!" And they get all butthurt and brush it off. For one thing, Jo wrote it, and every house is awesome, so get over it. For another, it may depend on how you were feeling that day. Here's the rub: I don't think anyone is PURELY one House. I think we all have different bits of different Houses in us, and those come out at different times in different strengths. Flitwick and McGonagall were both Hatstalls between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, but they just tipped in opposite directions. Where you are placed depends on which part of you is the STRONGEST, and which you may end up developing the most. And it's all good stuff. Ambition, pride, bravery, hard work, loyalty, intelligence, cleverness, chivalry, justice. Conversely, Gryffindors have timid or cowardly moments, Slytherins can be humble and selfless, Hufflepuffs can be traitors, Ravenclaws can be intolerant idiots. But there is no BAD House.
I still think I have some Gryffindor and Hufflepuff in me. But I'm also proud of my intelligence (which DOES exist, even when I don't give myself enough credit for it). I'm proud to belong to a House that values wit, cleverness, hard work, and acceptance. It's funny that this came so soon after my beginning-of-quarter pledge to put my rear in gear and get As with occasional Bs this spring. I'm gonna Nerd it up good.
Conclusion: We are all awesome and nothing is black and white (or rather, red and yellow and green and blue). So let's all be friends, yes?
Lovely, never ever change / Keep that breathless charm / Won't you please arrange it? / 'Cause I love you / just the way you look tonight. -The Way You Look Tonight, Frank Sinatra
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