Post by Olaniyi Shafiq on Mar 9, 2014 18:35:51 GMT -5
[presto]
TWENTY-TWO
FEMALE
LIAISON (M.O.M)
HALFBLOOD
HETEROSEXUAL
MALAIKA FIRTH
OLANIYI ZOLA SHAFIQ
 THE DAILY PROPHET THE MINISTRY'S NEW 'HIGHER EDUCATION' DEPARTMENT "She gave up her parental rights for me. So I could have a better life." - Olaniyi Shafiq, liaison Full interview on page 4. Page 4 Hello, Ms. Shafiq. How are you this evening? Absolutely brilliant, thank you. And yourself? Wonderful. It's always a pleasure to meet such inspiring people. Oh, thank you. That's very sweet. You're very welcome. Now, let's start off with this exciting new department of the Ministry. Well, it's not really a department. It's more of a... a branch of a department. A branch? Yes. Of which department? The Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Very impressive. So, tell us: what exactly do you do? Basically, I am a liaison between the muggle and wizarding worlds. I help magical children, who have graduated from Hogwarts, continue their education in the muggle world. Wow. That seems like it would be difficult. It's complicated, but I enjoy it. What inspired you to do this? Well, education was a gift to me. So, that's one of the reasons why I do what I do. But, I noticed that some wizarding students, especially muggleborns, felt out of place after graduating. Some of them didn't want to live in our world, but they couldn't go to a muggle university because they had spent the last seven years at a magical boarding school. So they're left with dead-end jobs and are unhappy. That's not okay with me. So, I came up with this higher education branch in hopes to help them with the transition. This is for any wizard student? Yes. It's not just open to muggleborn students. Halfbloods and purebloods are welcome to inquire. If any Hogwarts student - past or present - has interest in attending a muggle university, I am here to help them with the process. Muggle university. You've said that twice now. For those of us who don't know, what is that? A university is just a school. It's the highest form of schooling in the muggle British school system. Do they have lessons on magic? No. The muggle world does not know about our world, and this branch goes through many troubles to keep our world safe from being found out. So, to clarify, a university is just a school? Yes. What is your job in the process? How do you help the students? I work in both worlds. I work with the student and the university of interest. The muggle world has certain qualifications a student must earn before entering - or even applying to - university. I make sure that we hit all of those marks, and that our exams - the O.W.Ls and the N.E.W.Ts - match the muggle equivalency. It doesn't seem like an easy process. It's not. Which is why the student has to be completely sure that they want to do this. It takes a lot of effort on my part and on the student's part. Well, it's certainly an interesting concept. Have you had many students do it yet? Not many, but a couple. It's been successful and they're happy. I am as well, naturally. [laughs] Congratulations. Thank you. Ms. Shafiq, you mentioned earlier that education was a gift to you. What did you mean by that? My mother gave me the gift of education. Without her, I probably would not be here right now. She gave up her parental rights for me. So I could have a better life. My goodness. That's quite a thing for a mother to do. It is. I am so thankful to her for doing what she did. To whom did she give her parental rights? To my aunt, Olivia Shacklebolt. Oh? I had no idea you two were related! [smiles] My father was her brother. Wait... your father, her brother? What about your mother? It's a bit of a long story, but I'll tell you anyway. My father was a Death Eater. He was wanted after the first war, but he fled England and settled in Nigeria. Ironically, for someone who pledged his life to pure blood and willing took the Dark Mark, he married a muggle woman. And then I was born. But you're... how old again, Ms. Shafiq? I'm 22. What happened to your father? My father only returned to England to see his mother, who was dying in the hospital, well after the war was over. The Ministry caught wind of his reappearance and he went to flee again, but he ended up in a minor duel with some Aurors. He was still wanted from the first war, you see. Anyway, he died during the battle. Then your mother gave up her parental rights? My mother came here and tracked down my aunt. She had me with her. She turned me over to my aunt, because I needed a better life and a better education than Nigeria offered. My aunt willingly took me in. She's been fantastic. And your mother? She visited me every year. The year I graduated from Hogwarts, I went to Nigeria for the first time. And I knew my mother had made the right decision. I compared myself to the girls my age and... I felt so spoiled. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank my mother for the world she gave me. It's the greatest gift anyone could ask for. I'm sure. What did you do in Nigeria? I taught children, actually. I've always loved education. It's strange that you didn't end up a professor then. I did think about it. While I enjoyed what I did that summer, helping people is really what I love. So my job is perfect for me. I get to help people and education is involved, so it's a win-win for me. Were you a serious student? Oh, very. Very serious. I always was. Growing up, my aunt and uncle filled the house with learning - which is what education is all about. I wanted to learn everything I could about... everything! Even in primary school, I was the little girl with braids and a plaid dress who would rather read during recess than play on the swings. I actually wrote a book when I was 8. You wrote a book? Yeah. Thunderstorms always frightened me when I was younger, and I asked my uncle what the loud noises and flashes were. He told me that the thunder says something and the lightning answers back. I, of course, believed him, but I wanted to know what they were saying. Since I couldn't find the information anywhere, I wrote a book about Thunder and Lightning. I made them sisters instead of brothers. I used my cousin as inspiration for Thunder. She's the closest to a sister I have, so.... That's incredible. Do you still have the book? Oh, yeah. My aunt and uncle got it laminated for me and everything. It's on the bookshelf in my flat. Amazing-- And it helped me over come my fear of thunderstorms. Whenever we got one after that, I made up conversations in my head so I wasn't so scared. Wow. But, um, going back to your story... you have a cousin? [nods and smiles] Indeed, I do. I have two, actually. Niama and Noah. Niama just graduated from Hogwarts - I am incredibly proud of her. And Noah is going into his 4th year. Your aunt and uncle had their hands full, didn't they? Yes, they certainly did. FUN FACTS ABOUT OLANIYI 1) Her house at Hogwarts was Ravenclaw. 2) Her nickname is Lani. 3) Her co-workers would describe her as: determined, helpful, ambitious, head-strong and compassionate. 4) Despite her studious nature at school, Lani managed to have time for boyfriends. 5) Lani's favorite color is purple. 6) She was born on March 24th, 2002. 7) She has three cats, all males. They are called Mr. Mistoffelees, Rum Tum Tugger and Skimbleshanks. 8) In case this wasn't obvious, Lani is a fan of musicals and plays and such. 9) Her first name means "glory in stored riches". Zola, which is her middle name, means "piece of earth". 10) Due to her ambitious nature, Lani has thought about changing her surname to Shacklebolt to give her more power and prestige in the wizarding world. However, she keeps her surname to honor her mother who gave her this great life without even realizing it. 11) Lani invited her mother to England, to live with her, but was turned down. That hurt more than she cares to admit. 12) She is much closer to her aunt than her own mother, though she loves them both. 13) She blamed her aunt for the separation during a moment of intense anger, but has since apologized and forgiven Olivia. 14) She loves being an older sister to her cousins. 15) Her name is pronounced oh-lawn-e. HANNA 24 GMT -5 |
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