8 Lessons Students Can Learn From Harry Potter

Who doesn’t love Harry Potter? One of the biggest, boldest and beyond brilliant series of our generation.

In honour of the series’ 20^th anniversary, celebrated this year, what can we students learn from Harry and the gang? Sadly, Ms. Rowling cannot hold this lecture today.

Aim for the perfect school for you

Harry never fit in at home – because he belonged at Hogwarts! The day you get accepted into your dream uni will be as monumental as the day Hagrid burst in with Harry’s invitation to the magical school of wizardry.

Make sure you take time to research the best places for your course, see who the lecturers are (any well-known faces?) and always take a look around on open days if you can.

Teachers can get very ‘into’ their teachings

When you get to university you’ll find that, as teachers are concentrated to their certain fields, they will be very much involved in their teaching.

Let’s take Professor Trelawney, the Divination teacher, for example. She may be a bit quirky and strange around the edges. But her true powers of divination emerge later in the series, to startling effect. Never question your lecturers; they are the experts in their fields for a reason!

Don’t be afraid to ask for extra help

Remember the first appearance of the awful Dementors? Harry struggled to deal with them and asked Professor Lupin for help in extra sessions, which inevitably saved his and Sirius Black’s lives!

If you find yourself struggling, ask for help. Extort all sources and ask your teachers for some help – more than one if you really want to! Helping yourself is helping your grade.

You will make unexpected friends

Have you ever stopped to think about how different Harry, Ron and Hermione actually are? That’s one of the best things about education – you meet people from all around and end up making friends you never thought you would.

You are likely to meet people from many different walks of life while at university. Make sure you remain open-minded, ready to learn about new cultures and respect others.

If you can help your peers, do so!

It can be stressful helping others out, especially if you’re struggling yourself. But if you can help them out, there may come a time when they can help you!

For example, let’s think back to the fifth instalment of Harry Potter. Harry creates Dumbledore’s Army, in which he teaches his peers spells and fighting tactics to help them in their fight against Voldemort.

The gang get together outside teaching hours and work together towards a common goal. Mimic this with your classmates. You will be getting great revision in whilst being social!

Just ask them out

It’s okay to have a little crush, you know. Harry took way too long asking Cho to the Yule Ball and she ended up going with Cedric Diggory! Poor Potter.

There will be many events at university and even more objects worthy of your affection. Just ask the question already. You may be surprised by the response. If it doesn’t work out the first time, always remember your Ginny is waiting for you… Somewhere.

Extra reading and research will get you ahead

Hermione is Queen Bookworm and ‘the greatest witch of [her] age’. She spends her spare time in the library. And it was Hermione who saved the boys’ necks more than once, always turning up with a good recipe for Polyjuice potion and a strong hunch re:Horcruxes.

Take a leaf out of one of her many books and make sure you always do your extra work, tracking down those secondary resources!

You can’t always do everything, unfortunately

Unless you have Hermonie’s Time-Turner, you cannot attend every lecture – even if you really want to! Don’t take on too many tasks at once or you may drive yourself into some serious stress!

Happy Harrying!

Nikita studied English with Creative Writing at Brunel University London. Her loves include literature, travelling and writing. She is a spiritual soul and a bit of a wanderer. Stalk her on Twitter, Instagram and on http://www.nikitamurva.com/!

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