"The Greater Good"

         When someone does something "for the greater good", that means that he or she is taking action for or against something or someone that is going to benefit the majority of the people that might be harmed or wronged in that situation. I agree and disagree with the concept of doing something for "the greater good". Truthfully, I disagree with this concept because I personally would do anything for the people I love, such as my friends, boyfriend, and family. So, I would put them above almost any amount of people or above any situation, because I'm selfish like that. However, without the involvement of the people I love and care about, I do agree with making decisions "for the greater good" because making a good decision that is beneficial to the largest amount of people possible is the most empirical decision one could make. Presidents, for example, make many decisions on what  they believe is for the "greater good" of our country. The decisions they make sometimes result in sending innocent men and women out to battle, knowing that many of them will be killed. They know that by sending men and women out to sacrifice themselves for our country, all of America might benefit from it. That's what it means for someone to do something for "the greater good".

Heros vs Villians

 A hero is hard to define, however, this is how I see a hero. A hero is someone who will do anything to help those around him. Someone who doesn't care about the consequences that might hover over him/her afterwards, as long as the good deed is benefiting someone else. I also think that a hero is someone who can overcome any dark crisis in his/her own life. By dark I mean any struggles, battles, or bad habits that harm oneself or others around him/her. With that being said, a hero should attain the following attributes: selflessness, courage, humility, patience, and (depending on the situation) should be an over comer.

The biggest hero that comes to mind other that Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series is Dobby. Dobby shows his loyalty to Harry throughout the series. Due to that loyalty to Harry, Dobby acted against his master and tried, on multiple occasions, to keep Harry away from Hogwarts because he knew of Lucius' plan to re-open the chamber of secrets and wanted to keep Harry safe. This is just one heroic thing Dobby did for someone else and he does not go unnoticed for his bravery and loyalty. He is a true hero.

A villain is someone who is so self centered that they could care less about others around them and will do whatever it takes to satisfy his/her own wants or needs. They have no problem ruining, hurting, ruining, or even killing those who get in the way of them getting what they want. Another way I look at a villain is someone who gives in to their own temptations and allows evil to rule over their soul. Ultimately, a villain, in my mind, possesses fear, weakness, conceit, immorality, determinism, and (depending on the villain) intelligence.

The biggest villain in the Harry Potter series, excluding Voldemort, would have to be Albus Dumbledore. First of all, not caring about how Harry would get treated, Dumbledore left Harry with the worst family as a child! They treated him terribly and Dumbledore knew they were crappy people. The family basically abused Harry as a child and treated his as if he was worthless, but in reality, Harry is freaking awesome and is a wizard. I guess that wasn't important to ever mention to harry? Also, Dumbledore saved a bird with the Time Turner, but didn't care to use it when actual people were dying like Dobby, and Sirius. There are many other reasons why Dumbledore is the second biggest villain in this series, but these are just some of my personal opinions on why Dumbledore is a villain. 

Reflection #2 : Who are the Three Brothers in the Three Bothers Tale?

            I agree with the fan theory about the Three Brothers Tale that is told in JK Rowling's book 

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1” and here's why. First of all, this new “Fan Theory” 

about Albus Dumbledore being “death” in the Three Brothers Tale, in my mind, is spot on! This 

particular fan of Harry Potter who brought about this theory on his/her Tumblr “harryjxmespotter” 

uses the evidence that “Dumbledore greeted Harry at King's Cross” and also that Dumbledore was 

“behind Snape and Voldemort's death”. This information goes hand and hand with what happens in 

the Three Brothers Tale! Death greats the third brother after death finally finds him and Death is 

what took away the lives of both the first and second brother. However, this isn't the only proof that 

we have of Death being or representing Dumbledore. For example, another interesting fact that 

proves that Dumbledore is Death is that Death gave the third brother the invisibility cloak. Similarly, in the first Harry Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone”, Dumbledore gives Harry his 

fathers invisibility cloak that his Harry's father gave to Dumbledore after his death. 

             Secondly, not only do I agree with the theory that Dumbledore is death, but I also agree that the three brothers are Voldemort (Elderly/first brother), Snape (Middle brother), and Harry (the youngest brother). Voldemort and the oldest brother line up almost perfectly. Voldemort is just as 

power hungry as the eldest brother is for the wand in this tale. Also, Snape fits the part as the middle brother so well because, like the middle brother, Snape lost the love of his life (Lily Potter) and, although he didn't kill himself to reunite with her like the middle brother in the tale, he fantasizes about her and holds on to the memories of her. For the youngest brother, Harry Potter fits into that character like a glove. Harry, like the middle brother, possessed the cloak of invisibility for one; secondly, Harry sacrifices himself to kill the Horcrux (object Voldemort uses to conceal Harry's soul), as did the youngest brother sacrifice himself for his son. These are the reasons why I believe this Fan Theory to be true.

FYES Theme for Project

Honestly, I do not have the exact idea of what I want to do for my project yet. However, I do know that through whatever project I choose, I want to highlight friendship in it. I feel like the friendships in Harry Potter are very important and I want that to be my so called "Theme" for my project. Although I don't know exactly what I want to do for my project even after collaborating with my Dad for well over 40 minutes on ideas, my project will more than likely be some sort of art creation.

Reflection #1 - The Sorting Hat: Friend of Foe?

On the Pottermore website, I went through a trial of questions in order to get myself "sorted" into one of the houses that are located in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The house you get sorted into relies solely on your personality, values, and how you function as a person. When I took this quiz to get sorted, I was placed in Ravenclaw. In the movies and books, the people that are chosen by "the hat" to be in Ravenclaw have their own unique characteristics that they all have in common. Some of the characteristics the Ravenclaw inhabitants posses are logic, intelligence, & honesty. Fortunately, my characteristics seem to glide with those of the Ravenclaws, considering Strength Finder titles me as a learner, an achiever, analytical, and intellectual. Those traits seem to go hand and hand with those of the Ravenclaws. Honestly, I was surprised with my results on Strength Finder to some extent. I've never really seen myself as being any of those things, but once I read about each characteristic individually, it made complete sense. I plan on majoring in accounting, so I can definitely use my personality and characteristics to my advantage in the business world in the future.