If you really know me, you know that I love Harry Potter! As soon as HBO Max released Return to Hogwarts, I was streaming this documentary. I have been in love with the Harry Potter franchise for so long and it's a part of who I am. I have had people in passing and even in my social circle who look at me and probably wonder why I still love something "childish". Harry Potter isn't just a part of me, it's been my saving grace.
20 years ago I was in 5th grade and not being the best student that I could have been. I couldn't read very well and was very self conscious about reading out loud in front of people. That really started having an impact on my self esteem, and I know that my mom started seeing that as well.
One evening we sat down as a family to watch some TV and a commercial came on (way before you could skip the commercials), about a boy talking about magic and going to a school for witchcraft and wizardry. Watching that commercial, it instantly caught my interest. After seeing that commercial, I told mom that I wanted to go see that movie. She had seen that it was an adaptation of a children's book and she used that to her advantage. She made a deal with me, if I read the book and was able to tell her about it, she agreed to take me to the movie on opening night. Needless to say I read the book, went to the opening night show and the rest has been history.
So why do like like Harry Potter so much? Easy, it changed my life.
I went from a child who never read to an avid bookworm. I even have continued my love of reading to teaching my students how to read. When life got too hard at times, Hogwarts was my escape from reality, it was my safe space. When my mom got sick and had to be put in a nursing home, I read continually so I could learn how to deal with it. And then when mom died, I read the chapters again about a boy who knew what it felt like to lose a parent.
I was a lonely, dorky, sad and awkward little girl who only ever truly felt at home while escaping to Hogwarts and I can’t even explain in words how many emotions I got visiting it again. Thank you to the characters of the books who were my friends when I needed you most. I missed you dearly.
After all this time?
Always
