goodness gracious me!

[3valve]

1. Name: Jacqui

2. Age: 20 (Nearly 21! Hurrah!)

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Oh, I don’t like this question. I think about this a lot, because I travel a lot. I know I should live in the United States because I’m a citizen and it would be in best interests to remain here, live here, work here, etc… however, there are so many more interesting places to live! I intend to live in Japan for a year after I graduate from college; I’m about to go to New Zealand for a foreign exchange and who knows if I’ll like it enough to move there; I basically fell in love with both Hong Kong and Singapore; I’ve thought about living in Chile; I love Europe and wouldn’t mind living in Spain or England… basically, what I’m trying to say is that making me choose one place to live is a cruel and unusual punishment. Sorry, but I’m just not going to give you a straightforward answer.

4. What would your Room of Requirement look like?
My Room of Requirement would be someplace I could relax. I tend to run myself ragged, especially at school with extracurricular activities and such, so I’m always looking for a big, squishy chair to sink into and a way to let my mind recuperate. The room would have a big picture window, because I love natural lighting and I’m kind of a sunshine addict. There would be bookshelves all around the room, filled with decent, well-written and well-edited novels - but not classics. When I want to relax, I intend to vegetate. This means my literary choices, although well written, are not necessarily challenging to read. I tend to gravitate towards mystery novels. While there can’t be music playing in the room (I’m easily distracted and this simply would not help my concentration), there need to be instruments. One of my favorite ways to relax is to play my bass guitar. My trumpet would be there because it’s my baby and it’s always nearby. Of course, there would be bass tabs of my favorite rock bands and lots of good baroque trumpet music. Finally, there would have to be a big store of art supplies. Canvas, paint, pencils, sketchpads, construction paper, glitter glue - you name it, I need it. You never know when inspiration will strike! My Room of Requirement would have everything I need to make a spectacular birthday card or draw out a character that’s been bugging me during classes all day.

5. Who is your least favorite Harry Potter character?
Cornelius Fudge is definitely my least favorite character. He’s a spineless politician, which is something I just can’t stand. My mother is the mayor of our town, and she’s constantly dealing with people like Fudge - it’s easier to do things that make you seem popular than do the right thing, under-the-table deals make all the difference, and poor decisions are made because they just aren’t smart enough to realize the greater effects and are too lazy to care. Cornelius Fudge is walking around with blinders on, ignoring the obvious threats to the wizarding world because they’re threatening his term in office. He is the very definition of a “good old boy” politician, and he honestly makes me sick.

6. Is the glass half empty or half full?
My glass is half full - unless it happens to be filled with a caffeinated beverage, and then there’s always room for more. Seriously, though, I’m very optimistic. Probably overly so, if that’s possible - I’m a big dreamer, and have no doubt in my mind that I can do anything I set my mind to. I think I worry my parents because of some of my larger goals… I’m definitely more certain than they are about my ability to achieve them.

7. Give us a quotation (Can be from a famous person, a song, or even a poem-whatever you want) you feel represents your life or personality.
“Every child is born blessed with a vivid imagination. But just as a muscle grows flabby with disuse, so the bright imagination of a child pales in later years if he ceases to exercise it.” -Walt Disney

I chose that one for two reasons:
1. It’s Walt Disney. I tend to quote him a lot because he was brilliant and had an amazing philosophy on life that I agree with in a great many aspects.
2. Imagination is something I think many adults lack, and it’s very sad to find people who can no longer fantasize in their minds. If you can’t step outside reality every now and then, you get sucked permanently into reality, and become very, very boring. Plus, using your imagination stretches your mind and helps you think on your feet - those of us with healthy imaginations are probably more likely to survive being stranded on a desert island, for example, because we’re more creative and willing to try things others might regard as frivolous or a useless effort.

8. In your life, who comes first: family or friends?
My family comes first. I come from a very small family - I’m an only child, and my entire extended family consists of 12 people, so it’s very easy to be close to them. My mom is more like my best friend than anything else… and my dad is more like my pesky brother, but I love him anyway. I’ve never had friends that I value more than my family, probably because I don’t get really close to people very easily. I have only two friends that I trust as much as my family, and my family still takes precedence when it comes to deciding whom I’m going to spend my time with.

9. What is your favorite childhood memory?
I kind of don’t know what to do about this question. I have a really poor memory, and I can’t think of anything. Seriously. I’ve left it for last, I keep coming back, and I’ve got nothing. I honestly have no idea why I can’t remember a single “favorite thing” about childhood. I swear I had a good childhood, I guess it just wasn’t that eventful or something. What constitutes “childhood” - anything under the age of 18? If that’s the case, I’d say leaving the country for the first time - I went to Europe with my Youth Orchestra when I was 15 and it was amazing. It spurred my complete inability to stay in the country due to curiosity. (I’m so sorry this answer is shabby!)

10. What would you say is your biggest flaw?
My stubbornness is my biggest flaw. I know it gets me nowhere, but dangit, I’m right. Even if I’m wrong and I know I’m wrong - I’m right because I don’t like to admit that I’m wrong! I don’t think I can elaborate much more on this, it’s pretty clear - you just can’t get me to budge on any issue that I’ve made a solid statement about.

11. If you had been at Hogwarts during Harry’s fifth year, do you think that you would have joined the D.A.?
Yes, I definitely would have joined the D.A. First of all, it would be an extracurricular activity of sorts - I really just can’t resist those. Secondly, in joining the D.A. I would be learning defensive spells that other students wouldn’t be learning, and quite frankly, I wouldn’t mind feeling a little superior for that. I mean, let’s be honest - I like having knowledge and skills that others don’t. It’s in my competitive nature.

12. Describe how you react to difficult or stressful situations.
I plow right through them. I’m not easily stressed out; it takes a lot to push me over the edge. When I do get into a tough or stressful situation, however, it just toughens my spirit. I just keep battling through it until it’s over, and heaven help you if you get in my way.

13. Which do you value more: compassion or justice?
Justice. I’m not sure if this is necessarily because I think justice is the more important, or if I’m just not that big on compassion. I’m kind of leaning towards the latter, actually - I’m very severe when it comes to judging people, there’s not a lot of room for wishy-washiness in my book, and I’m not likely to be swayed by emotional things. I mean, I really do think justice is important; it’s only that when given the choice between the two, my reasoning for picking one over the other is just a process of elimination. Did that even make any sense at all?

14. Would you say that you’re a child at heart, or that you have an old soul?
I am absolutely, without a doubt a child at heart. I’ve probably got a Peter Pan complex. I mean, why grow up when you can do something fun like… work for Walt Disney? Only I wouldn’t actually do that, because the corporation has ruined everything they used to stand for. But you know what I mean. I’m silly, I think cookies taste better if they have multicolored sprinkles on them, and I’m hardly ever serious. Plus, I’m rather drawn to bright colors and glitter.

15. Which Hogwarts House do you think that the Sorting Hat would place you in?
Gryffindor. I’m a Gryffindor to the bone - passionate, headstrong, competitive, outgoing and desperate to be the center of attention. Plus, the good people at ”hogwarts_elite” said I am, and they know everything.

16. If you have a picture of yourself and feel comfortable posting it, please do so! Pictures are fun!

Here, this is my 'default' picture because I actually look semi decent in it:


And this is me being a dork and trying to look like John Wayne at a murder mystery party:


I'm on the right. And yes, John Wayne wore Converse sneakers. Didn't you know?