The Article below was published in Vol. 135, Issue 1 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on September 20, 2019
By Esther Kim ‘22
Staff Writer
To the windows, to the walls, hopefully there’s no mold growing in these halls! Everyone who knows me knows of my love for Harry Potter and the magic that surrounds the wizarding world. Even though it’s only September, I eagerly await the spooky season and the different spells of Halloween—I definitely need one for getting up in the morning. I hope to make a cauldron full of butterbeer and chocolate toads for the serendipitous occasion. Somehow, I’ve been all over the Marauder’s Map, as I’ve lived on every campus—despite only being a sophomore—yet, I’ve noticed some interesting quirks about each dorm
Last year I lived on the third floor of Blackstone, in a quad. The rustic brick exterior makes the dorm feel like a Hogwarts-eque tower. In my mind, Blackstone is clearly a Gryffindor building with its fresh new faces and brave souls. A Gryffindor must be courageous, determined, and brave—just like all of us who survived the polar vortex. The lion is its crest, which reminds me of the ferocity we needed to withstand finals… and the showers. Not only did we turn from 13-year-old Neville Longbottom to 30-year-old Neville, we stuck together as a pride.
During the summer, I lived in Moore—the “best of the best” dorms. The rooms were very clean, the walls were very white, and the kitchen was always alive. That building is Slytherin, for sure. A sleek, modern building filled with ambitious Richter students, summer students, researchers, and summer workers were working nearly nine to five. Cunning, yet ambitious, the people were always kind but had to put work first. I’m not calling anybody a snake, but snakes can morph and shed and undergo many transformations. Yes, self-preservation is important, but I felt that the building was lonesome, new, and sterile.
As a current Lois/CY resident, people always tell me there are going to be bugs and that it’s the “worst dorm.” Yes, I realize it doesn’t have air conditioning, but who needs frigid air blasting in their face at 6 a.m. or a scalding sauna at 11 p.m.? Personally, I enjoy greenery, the quiet, and the very ability to open our windows. I think of the residents here as both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. While studious and mostly introverted, the residents are very warm. People are from all over the globe, and cooking is a huge part of bonding. Not only do we have baked cookies and scented air fresheners, we have perfumed soap and amazing residents.
Although I may be biased toward a particular house, I appreciate all of the houses here at
Hogwarts—err, Lake Forest College. I have yet to find a Moaning Myrtle in a bathroom or find my Patronus here, but the gothic architecture of Hotchkiss, Durand, Blackstone, and Harlan nostalgically remind me of childhood. I know I could have put more Harry Potter puns throughout this, but I wouldn’t want to accidentally cast a stunning spell on anyone…
I solemnly swear that I am up to (no) good,
Esther Kim
Esther Kim can be reached at kimed@mx.lakeforest.edu
