Overcome emotional blocks in oral tests

“When the boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape,” said Lupin. “And you will raise your wand — thus — and cry ‘Riddikulus’ — and concentrate hard on your grandmother’s clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, and that green dress, with that big red handbag.”

This is what happens at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when Harry Potter and his classmates take part in the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the third year. Their task, in turn, is to practice defeating a Boggart, that is, a demon capable of taking the form of whatever scares us the most. The first to face him is Neville, a boy who in the presence of the dreaded potions teacher, Professor Snape, fidgets, stutters, and makes disasters, often risking flunking school. Fearing him more than anything else, Neville knows that the Boggart will take the form of Snape, but here Professor Lupin gives him suggestions on how to defend himself: think of Professor Snape wearing his grandmother’s clothes!

Have you ever found yourself in Neville’s shoes? Have you ever found yourself fidgeting, stammering, getting nervous during a test and not getting the grade you deserve? Do your palms start to sweat, a lump in your throat prevents you from speaking, and you stand in silence staring at the professor? Do you happen to find yourself preparing an exam to perfection only to go mess up the oral exam?

If yes, read the next three words very carefully: it is normal!!! Who has never cowered in class or on an exam? Who has never frozen when judged in front of other people? Your emotions and your body do what they do best: protect you! The question you can ask yourself is: how can I help them protect me without compromising my performance in school or college?

Here’s where “The Prisoner of Azkaban” gives us some valuable insights. First of all, it makes us realize that emotions are inside us, not outside. The Boggart has no power over us, otherwise he would show himself as he is. Instead, what does he do? He stares at us just enough to read us inside and transform itself accordingly. So if emotions are born within us then we are the ones who create them, and if we are the ones who create them we are the ones who can learn to play with them.

And that’s where I come in.