Potter

I did something that I thought would never happen in a million years. Something I made fun of for a long time, thought was silly, and never....ever thought I would open one of their books, let alone take it seriously. But it happened. I have managed to plow through the 7 book series in a whopping 3 weeks. I really can't explain how I exactly was swept up in the books, I tried to tell myself it was because of the leadership development that could be pulled out of that book in used in my own profession (true but not the reason) or even because I knew how much it meant to Alivia that I should take the time to read it (also true) but I have to honestly say that I was just genuinely hooked on the story. I would lie to say that I am not slightly embarrassed but I think you're not human if you somehow don't connect with one of these characters that keeps you coming back to the stories. I found myself trying to relate with them, sure that can be difficult because well, I don't own a wand and I'm just about 26 years old...but there are so many deep lessons taken from the Potter experience. To watch a student transform in the way that he did over a 7 year stint, to see the maturation process, the trials and tribulations that he went through...well we can all relate to that can't we?

Working in a college environment I truly have the privilege to watch students go through this process. Working in a first year residence hall I get to see them come in as 17 and 18 year old students and see in 4 years time how they have changed, matured, grown. I get to see them learn more about themselves and where they fit in this school, in the work place, and in the world.

We find inspiration and motivation sometimes in the oddest of places. For the first semester of my new experience at Emmanuel College, I was able to find mine through the Harry Potter series (it took me a while to write that, it's still weird seeing it let alone believing it). It is a reminder of how instrumental education can be and how influential we can be as student affairs professionals.

I wonder what the books would have meant to me if I read it when I was a teenager or when I was in college? I am sure that my outlook and take on the series would be completely different...sure there would still be somethings that I would take the same way but my experience in higher education has surely made me look at the situations a bit differently. It was fun for me to have this experience at this age though. It made me long for my childhood again, when I was young and had no idea what the future held for me and believing that my life could run down so many different paths. Having that distinct belief that I was going to do something great in this world...I had no idea what it was or where it was going to come from but I truly believed that I was going to do something that would leave a major imprint. As time has gone one my visions and goals have molded a bit differently than I would have anticipated however, much of that has remained the same. Reading the series at the age of 26 has inspired me to continue to pursue greatness...to continue to make the difficult decisions when you know they are the right ones...and more importantly to continue to just do good. So many times we take for granted the power of doing good, taking the time to go out of your way and make a difference, that's what its about...and it took 3 weeks of reading about the life of Harry Potter to remind me this.


Thank you Harry.