This was my contribution to the class blog, and I still stand by it wholeheartedly:
One of the greatest benefits of failure is that it has to the potential to push us in a new direction. At the pinnacle of despair, we are often at such a low that our only choice is to try something new or continue down the path of failure. At this point, imagination can be our greatest asset.
Rowling mentions one definition of imagination as “the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not.” Every day we are presented with opportunities to see more than just the world around us. We often try to see beyond our limited experiences and imagine an alternate reality, usually far better than the one we are experiencing. However, as Rowling points out, we cannot end on that definition. The key to letting imagination transform our world is to act. If we are able to imagine a better life or a better world, yet we take no steps in that direction, we are no better off than we were before.
Rowling is a wonderful example of this in the way that she rose from what she considered her darkest moment. According to her, “imagination is indispensable when we have failed.” Through her experiences we learn that sometimes through the most difficult times, we learn about human goodness in unexpected ways. Imagination thus serves to do more than give us a positive outlet, it gives us the power to learn and understand without having experienced. It gives us the opportunity to change our reality based on our ability to learn. As Plutarch stated, “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.”
Putting aside an already great admiration for J.K. Rowling, her words in this speech make me like her even more. Despite the great fame she has achieved, she is still incredibly real. I love that about her, and I think it can be attributed to the experiences she has had with failure. In her life, she was not afraid to fail, and that meant she went through hard times, but it also meant that she would become the passionate, strong woman that she is today. I hope that I can pursue my dreams as bravely as she has.
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