User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4160899-20110717191759

Asking me what Harry Potter means to me is like asking me what my childhood and all its memories means to me. Since 3rd grade, this series has given me so much to enjoy. My entire family has been fans of the books - from aunts to uncles, cousins, and even grandparents. Ms. Rowling gave me something to bond with my family over; something to learn side by side with family and friends of absolutely all ages.

Book after book, Harry, Ron, and Hermione have taught me that perseverance, love, and friendship is key to solving all our problems. There is no such thing as selfishness when it comes to the people we care for - it is only selflessness that matters in our lives - for we never know what could happen. And those people that we assume are the worst, the bad, those who may betray us, well - they could very well be the person to lay their lives down for us. As cliche as it sounds, Harry Potter taught me that you can never judge a book by its cover.

Between the words on every page of the 7 year journey we have shared with many and the depictions of our childhood memories upon the silver screen, there is no way I can put the answer to this question into mere words. It is not something I can just say or reiterate. Harry Potter has given me foundations in my life that have helped me become who I am and keeps the child in me alive to this very day. If there is one thing that I have learned, one thing that this series has brought to life for me, it has to be the lesson that absolutely NOTHING is set in stone. We are the masters of our own future and no matter how intimidating things may seem, being true to what you believe in and following through with what you feel is the right thing, you will always come out on top...and everything will be alright.