Bonus - "MIRROR MIXING & MINGLING" - Fall 2021

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

Welcome to the Bonus "Mixing & Mingling" thread! This is about getting to interact with one another as classmates, particularly about themes from this past semester and your corresponding class work if that speaks to you. Those who post their Mirror Essays or Memory/Manifestation may provide helpful prompts for discussion points. While you're welcome to interact as much as you like, each of your first three 50+ word posts you will receive 5 points and/or 10 beans. When submitting your work, please let me know if you've posted once, twice, or three (or more) times so I can confirm participation. As a fun option, you may choose to Role-Play these interactions though are not required to. If you do, please take a look at this RPGuidelines page for some helpful tips.

** These points are SUPPLEMENTAL. While they can be used toward the 150 point minimum for a passing grade and Quill requirements, I am UNABLE to award you more than 300 points in a single term even if you've earned them. Beans on the other hand are up for grabs by anyone! **

Similarly to the end of last term looking back at on the year prior, Sindor finds coming to the end of this fall semester so interesting to reflect on.

Having taught MS:HP for a full year previously, and now incorporating a second piece of the course with returning students has been such a joy. While we're still only halfway through the school year, in some ways this still feels like a very full circle moment. Sin is pleased to've shared such lovely memories with everyone who's stepped into this room while he's had the privilege of teaching.

His usual sections for students to write their exams at tables are on one side {"Noise canceling headphones are optional, just gesture toward one of your class assistants for a pair!"} or they can relax on any number of beanbags thrown about the other half where people can take breaks and catch up together.

Professor Aloyarc clears his throat, "Does anyone have thoughts from this past semester/year, or expectations and hopes for 2022? It's been quite the wild ride!" (To say the least) "What might some highlights be for you? Are you the resolution type, or do you have any specific goals you'd like to meet this coming year? Anything you're proud of accomplish in 2021?"

[Prof. Will Lestrange]

Having planned out how he would write his exam, Will moves towards one of the beanbag chairs to take a comfortable seat. He gestures for a set of noise cancelling headphones anyway, explaining "I'll need a few minutes of deep concentration for each of the four Powers discussed this term - but I'll be happy to talk when I'm not concentrating!"

Will continues: "Looking back on 2021, probably my biggest accomplishment was being able to succeed Scarlet in my own house here: that, and simply making it through the year relatively unscathed, to be honest!"

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

“I’m so happy,” Sin responds, “to have gotten to be here to see your transitions to Professor and Head of Slytherin! Definitely worthy accomplishment to be proud of.”

Pondering his own year, “For me the biggest piece of 2021 in my real life has been the progress me and my partner have made in our ability to communicate and come back together, resolving tensions faster and more smoothly than before. Still got a long way to go, but it had already been getting easier over time and after this past year it’s been leaps and bounds better than ever. I’ve found this to be really important and beneficial, beyond just for obvious reasons, as we are definitely opening some new chapters in our lives and it will be much easier to rise up and meet any potential challenges together from a more grounded place.”

[Prof. Will Lestrange]

Listening to Sin's words, Will thinks of things to say. "That sounds like you've made real progress over 2021: being able to communicate with and be understood by the people you care about is important, but deceptively tricky." Turning towards the next year, he continues: "It's very hard to try and make any predictions about the upcoming year: the last few years have come with so many twists and turns that I've learned it's hard to say anything about the future with confidence!" But, reflecting back on 2021, he concludes, "I would like to think I've handled my challenges well enough for the past year, and hopefully this will serve me well for the upcoming year!"

[Silvana Mandeville]

Silvana smiles at the class, she is really happy to hear the others accomplished many things in their lives. It's nice to hear from them and take note of things in people's lives to learn. Silvana says, "My biggest success in 2021 is getting a new job, which is decent enough to support myself rather than the previous one. Although it didn't make a big impact since I still live with my parents, but I can help my parents with family needs. And that makes me very happy. Even though I have to learn a lot at work, I really enjoy it. As for this year, I hope to become a better self than in 2021. Like Prof. Will have said, the future is a mystery, we never know what will happen tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week, next month, etc … so for any obstacles we might meet on our roads I hope we can do our best to pass it."

[Prof. Will Lestrange]

Having just turned in his final exam, Will returns to the beanbag chairs to listen to what Silvana had to say. "Congratulations on your new job!" he responds. "It does sound like you're moving forward, and even if you have quite a bit to learn, I'm sure you'll be able to do so as we get into 2022." Reflecting further, Will continues, "It's hard to believe how much we've all done - and how long HOL's been around, for that matter! The fact that we've all done well so far hopefully bodes well for what comes next, even if nothing is certain."