Hufflepuff Philosophy

Wise words from Shanell, Sage of Sett

"Behold the power a badger can have." - her Sageliness

So another school year has passed. Seems only yesterday that the first years were lost little souls running around the castle. And soon we will face a new batch of students, just as eager and just as excited to jump on board as we were. We will teach them and guide them, for it is not just the job of the professors; it is up to us as seniors to lend a hand as well. But for now, before the new first years stream in so we run out of chocolate frogs to give them, it is time to celebrate the conquering of another year, and to bring out the pumpkin juice to salute the past and welcome the future.

Many days have passed, many things have happened. We have all felt sad at times, but we have had wonderful people around us to help us through. Tragedies can bring us together or tear us apart; it is how we choose. We can choose to hold on to the worst things that have happened to us and stubbornly refuse to move forward. We can choose to hang tight to the happy times and hide away the bad. There is power underestimated in our hands, and it is the power to choose.

The future lies ahead of us, unknown, unexplored. We can wake up to a fresh morning and simply decide we want it to be a Good Day, and we can make it out to be, no matter what happens. If we think about what could be ahead of us - that Potions test, the 5 o'clock detention - we'd feel glum, and it hasn't even happened yet! It is when we imagine the day to be bad that it turns out to be so. And what is the use of expecting a Bad Day, to tell yourself "I told you so"? Our future is what we choose it to be.

Try. Think, think back to when you came into Hogwarts, for the first time, or returning from the summer holidays. Then, slowly remember the things that had made you happy and warm and fuzzy, like when you drink hot butterbeer in front of a fire in the middle of winter. You'll remember sad events too, of course, but things often have two sides to them. Choose to linger on the positive side. I do not ask you to ditch bad memories, though you may want to, and you can. But memories can be important, and you should keep those dear to you. What matters is that you think of the good things that came with that memory, event, or person, and focus on the lighter side. People like happy people, and people like to be liked. It follows that we should all try to be happy, and we can simply choose to do just that.

Her Sageliness will leave you with that, and here's wishing everyone good luck on your finals, and happy end-of-term.

Disclaimer: This article does not mean to change anyone's opinions, it is merely for her Sageliness to share her views about Life, the Universe and Everything. Any consequences resulting from the great thought provokingness of the article is not her responsibility.