The Face of HOL
Meet your fellow HOLers through this amazing column where each installment will bring you a new exciting interview with someone from our community. Whether you know them well or not, we are sure there will be something here you did not already know.
Emerald Wolvenhowlby Silvana Mandeville
Silvana: HOLers! Happy new year to all of you! How’s your 2024? I hope you’ve had a great start! And so, to welcome this year, the HOwLer is back again and it means that I also make a comeback with The Face of HOL. This time I have my fellow 5th year with me, let’s welcome Emerald Wolvenhowl!
How are you doing, Em? Emerald: I'm good thank you, how are you? Silvana: I’m doing well too, thank you for asking. Speaking about being at HOL, you’ve been here quite a long time. So I’m curious - how did you find this school? Emerald: I came across HOL by complete accident. I was on the internet looking up schools and lessons in the Harry Potter world when I spotted HOL. Looking back I realise just how lucky I was to find you all. Silvana: Oh! Many of us came here by an accident. I did as well. When you came to HOL you were sorted into Gryffindor, do you think the House suited you well? Emerald: When I found out I wasn't so sure about it. A part of me had hoped I would get into the same House as Harry, Ron and Hermione but at the same time I didn't believe that I had any of the qualities or traits to be a Gryffindor, not even courage or bravery. Since then I have proved to myself that sometimes I am stronger and braver than I think, so I am in the right House after all. Silvana: That’s nice to hear. Being stronger and brave must be the reason for many things you’ve achieved here at HOL. If I’m not mistaken, you are on the Class Committee here. How do you feel about being on CC? Emerald: I am very lucky to be a part of the CC, to work with such great people and to have the pleasure of reading students homework. Being involved in it is so rewarding, and it is a great feeling to know that everyone is pulling together for the same aim. Silvana: Aside from that experience, being here for 5 years, you must have something special to share, so tell us what’s your favorite thing to do at HOL during your free time? Emerald: Having the opportunity to be creative here on HOL always brings me joy. I love it when assignments encourage everyone to have a go at art or to try and create something using different forms of media. It is also lovely to be able to see other people sharing their creations with everyone on HOL. Silvana: It’s your 5th year here, meaning it’s your OWL time. Please tell us, how do you feel about it? Emerald: At first I felt a little bit daunted by it, as there is quite a bit of writing involved, however, I soon got into the swing of things. I have enjoyed doing research because the topics and questions are so very interesting and I feel I have learned such a lot since I started them. Silvana: It’s true, it’s enjoyable to do the writing though I still feel like getting hit by a hurricane. Anyway, tell us your favorite classes! Emerald: So many of the classes are so good, it's impossible to choose a favourite. Even just choosing which classes to take each term is a challenge. Silvana: A challenge indeed! Oftentimes there are many people who inspire us to be better. Are there any role models you have here at HOL? If you do have them, who are they and why did you choose them? Emerald: To be honest, I think every HOL member is an inspiration one way or another because each individual brings something unique and special to HOL. Silvana: I agree with you. There are many great people here at HOL being inspirations to others. How about fun facts about your self? Please tell us some. Emerald: I am so bad at playing console games that even a Lego game that was suitable for ages 3+ absolutely bamboozled me. Whenever I make mistakes, which is often, I always get called a Womble. I'm addicted to playing Scrabble. I have had to ban myself from going into book shops because otherwise I end up binge book-buying even though my 'to be read pile' is all ready huge. If I go to a theme park, you will always find me on the rides that are for anyone under the age of 8 because I am too much of a scaredy cat to go on the big rides for adults. What did I say earlier about courage and Gryffindor? *Em laughs and eyerolls at herself* Silvana: It said on your profile that you absolutely love books! Well, same as me. Do you have any recommendations to share with the HOLers for 2024 readings? Emerald: If there is only one book you read this year, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is an absolute must. His writing is like a breath of fresh air, very easy to read, and as the story is set during the Second World War it is also very moving. For anyone interested in reading about school teenagers solving crimes then any of the Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens are great. For those who are 18 or older and who enjoy reading about real life detectives from the MET (Metropolitan Police), you might want to read The Real Prime Suspect by Jackie Malton. Her memoir reveals some the difficulties she faced being one of the few females working in the police force from 1970s onwards. Silvana: The last question: is there anything you want to say to the HOLers? Emerald: To all HOLers, I wish you the very best 2024 you can possibly have. May it be filled with much joy, good health and prosperity. I hope you will make this year extra special for yourselves by following your dreams no matter how big or small they are, and if you ever catch yourselves thinking that it feels as if those dreams are too far away then just know that with each little step forward you take, the closer you are to reaching them. Love, Em. Silvana: Aw, thank you so much, Em! Wish you the same things! And thank you very much for your time. HOLers, that’s all about our Emerald, see you in the next issue! Have a nice day~ |