Why Ginny Weasley is my spirit guide
Harry Potter has always been a large part of my life. I have read the books, seen the movies, visited the parks, and listened to the audiobooks. I have read all of the Harry Potter-related publications released by J.K. Rowling, and many fan-theories about the wizarding world. I’m constantly on the verge of convincing myself to get a Harry Potter tattoo. I can honestly say that I am a Harry Potter fanatic.
My friends and family have asked me many times: “Who is your favorite Harry Potter character?” They respond with Harry, Hermione, Sirius, or the Weasley twins. For me, my favorite character has always been Ginny Weasley.
Growing up and reading Harry Potter, Ginny has always been a role model for me. I saw a lot of similarities in our lives and in our actions. While Ginny has six brothers, I have three. We are both the only girls in our families and can often be seen as incapable of taking care of ourselves, even though that’s far from the truth.
Since Ginny is the youngest of her siblings, people always believed that she needed to be taken care of and looked after. Ron was always overprotective about her dating, and people weren’t afraid to talk about what she was wearing or how she looked. Growing up, I could relate to Ginny. My family was overprotective too! At first I thought they didn’t think I could do anything, but after reading the Harry Potter series I knew that wasn’t the case.
Even though Ginny was never taught to ride a broomstick, she took it upon herself to learn – even if that meant taking her brother’s broomsticks from the shed to practice in secret. She was a shy child just like I was, but spoke up when someone needed help. When Malfoy was taunting Harry about Professor Lockhart giving him free books and publicity, Ginny stepped in and shut him down. She stands up for herself, but more importantly she stands up for others. This was a very important lesson I learned from Ginny.
Even though Ginny spent the first few years as a teenager fawning over Harry, she eventually moved on. She embraced herself and became an independent person. When she finally could speak around Harry without stuttering, that’s when he began to notice her. He began to see her as more than just his best friend’s little sister. Ginny also began dating, which Ron hated, but she was able to figure out the type of guy she wanted to be with.
Not only is Ginny my favorite character, but I also try to be just like her. She is strong, brave, loyal, compassionate and loving to all that she meets. In her relationship with Harry, she understands that his job to defeat Voldemort is important and the main reason they have to be apart for a long time. Even then, she loves him and sticks by him. An important thing I learned from Ginny and Harry’s relationship is the idea of being equal partners. They are both strong, determined, and have the ability to stand on their own.
I believe we should all be a little more like Ginny Weasley. We should remember to to stand up for what we believe in. We should focus on family and friends, but also make sure we focus on what makes us happy as well. We need to follow our hearts and not give up on our dreams because in the end, that’s how Ginny ended up with Harry and how she also became a professional Quidditch player. I want to be Ginny Weasley because she knows what she wants and what it takes to accomplish her dreams, and I think that’s the best type of role model to follow.
Imogen Farris is a Harry Potter fan and horror movie lover who watches too much Netflix and cable television. She also has an unhealthy relationship with coffee, but a very healthy relationship with her husband, dog and cat.
[Image via Universal Pictures]
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