User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4131845-20110713020356

I grew up with Harry Potter, in '98 at the age of 11 I was the first in line to receive the book right at midnight on September 1st. Since that day it became much more to me than 'just a book'; it became my sanctuary. I was a victim of bullying that carried on from the early stages of Elementary all the way to late in High School and Harry Potter provided me with an escape I did not have before. Whilst reading the adventures of Harry and his friends, I was able to join in their journeys and, for the first time ever, have a way to ignore those who called me ugly names and threw objects my way. Harry Potter taught me lessons that were failed to be taught to me by the adults in my life; lessons of standing up for ones self, holding onto your true friends and, most importantly, finding the light even in the darkest of situations. Because of those seven novels, I was able to find the switch and turn on the light during my darkest and deepest times, I was able to make my life so much better.

To me, Harry Potter gave me the second chance I needed to continue on with life, it gave me the push and the drive to believe that things would get better - and now, at the age of 24, I am so thankful to J.K. Rowling ...she and her characters saved my life.