What if Our School Was Hogwarts?
BY HARIKA GOTETI '24
Ever catch yourself daydreaming about turning school into something straight out of a magical adventure? I am definitely guilty of this; I sometimes wonder, what if our school was like Hogwarts? Wouldn't high school be way more fun? Well, if you've had those thoughts too, you're in luck, since this article will make it easier for you to compare our appreciable departments to Hogwarts houses.
Firstly, Our World Language department not only delivers remarkable education in various languages but also gives a great understanding and appreciation for new cultures, and opens a classroom open to collaboration and communication. If I were to liken this department to a Hogwarts house, it would undoubtedly be Hufflepuff – known for its friendliness, approachability, and readiness to help. The faculty members are exceptionally patient, even in the face of my cringe-worthy dad jokes during my years studying French, which is undoubtedly an exceptional Hufflepuff quality. Within the French curriculum, we explored thought-provoking themes such as justice by researching healthcare systems and engaging in debates about the healthcare system in France, which allows us students to explore themes we may not see in our daily lives. This aligns seamlessly with the Hufflepuff house's commitment to kindness and fairness by reflecting on important issues in class, and the values of inclusivity, acceptance of diversity, and a dedication to equality embodied by our World Language department. Now, moving on to another department that shares Hufflepuff qualities: our exceptional science department. Similar to Hufflepuff's appreciation for animals and nature, our science educators have consistently emphasized the value of going outdoors to find real-life examples that support any scientific claims, which totally gives off Care of Magical Creatures energy! Also, by encouraging collaboration with new classmates, the department allows fairness, promoting teamwork for collective academic success. Hufflepuff has always emphasized working together and helping each other. Since many Hufflepuffs share with animals and nature, our Science department strategically introduces Freshman students to environmental sciences, providing a foundational perspective that shapes their approach to more unique scientific subjects such as biology, and chemistry. Now let’s move on to a different house: the house of creative thinkers, Ravenclaw! Our English department would check off all the boxes for this house, because they always encourage us to think outside the box (pun intended.) When it comes time for analyses, I’ve noticed a strong emphasis on answering the question: “why?” constantly encouraging wisdom and wit. Additionally, I’ve noticed many rubrics encourage students to convey their thoughts in a creative way. Our English department bears a striking resemblance to Ravenclaw, where intellect and creativity converge to inspire a truly magical learning environment. Skills we learn in English class such as Creative writing and reading comprehension are similar to Ravenclaw values, embodying the house's appreciation for intelligence, wisdom, and creativity. Engaging in creative writing allows students to express imaginative ideas, showcasing their creative thinking and intellectual depth which many Ravenclaws are fond of. Meanwhile, mastering reading comprehension aligns with their pursuit of wisdom, as it involves extracting meaning, synthesizing information, and creating a nuanced understanding of diverse subjects. Both activities, whether through crafting narratives or analyzing texts, provide Ravenclaws with platforms to showcase their analytical thinking, effective communication skills, and an enduring passion for continuous learning. Wherever I go, I hear someone talking about their favorite history teacher, so I feel that it is only fair to give them Gryffindor because the teachers truly are the main characters of our school. Our social studies department offers many unique classes that foster similar traits to the Gryffindor house! Such as my current favorite class, despite being a Slytherin, Political Science gives an emphasis on exploring political ideologies and leadership which is a trait many Gryffindors reflect on. Similarly, Sociology that focuses on understanding societal structures and encouraging bravery to address social injustices. Additionally, U.S. History showcases moments of heroism and encourages critical thinking when regards to our own country. Lastly, World History which explores the courageous deeds of historical figures like Joan of Arc and diverse cultures. This department's overall atmosphere fosters bravery, encourages open-mindedness, and promotes intellectual and ethical challenges. Now last but not least, the subject I would sort into my personal house, despite being not so good at this subject; I would sort math into Slytherin. Aside from the actual math part, the one thing our school’s math department has taught me was to be resilient, and to bounce back after disappointment. Many Slytherins are strategic and math teachers are very keen on helping their students find what works for them. Not only that, math itself can help students become strategic as there’s different ways to solve certain problems. Additionally, this department is very good at the resourcefulness part of Slytherin because they offer a lot of extra help activities such as He(r) and Math, and after school extra help! In essence, our school's departments are a lot more similar to Hogwarts houses than we may think, which definitely made me romanticize our school a lot more! In summary, World Language showcases Hufflepuff's friendliness and cultural appreciation similarly to science which reflects Hufflepuff's collaborative nature. English channels Ravenclaw with creative thinking. Social studies embodies Gryffindor's bravery and critical thinking. Math, with its emphasis on resilience and strategic thinking, truly embodying Slytherin. It's like Hogwarts, but in our classrooms! |