User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4146604-20110714121731

I have been reading Harry Potter since I was seven years-old (I am almost 18). I started reading the books because a sixth grade teacher at my school (who was my dad's friend) thought I would like the series. I had quite the imagination. I fell in love with the series and the magical world right away. I grew up with Harry Potter. As he went on his adventures, I accompanied him. When he was in awe of the wizarding world, so was I. When he snuck around the castle, battled dementors and dragons, made friends, and fell in love.... I did too. His friends became my friends. I was and still am utterly enchanted by the magic of the series and the wizarding world. When I was 11 years-old, I even wrote a letter begging Dumbledore to accept me into Hogwarts because I would work as hard as possible and be one of the best, most studious students he had ever taught and I taped the letter to the glass sliding door of my back porch (of our upper level apartment in St.Thomas) so that an owl could bring it to him. My parents took it down and saved it as a memento.

The books were a good reference to look to as I grew up. As I began going through puberty, I could read about Harry, Ron, and Hermione going through similar things. Also, there are so many good lessons in the series - choosing what is right over what is easy, following your heart and being true to yourself, learning how important love is, being a great friend, making hard decisions, and making the best of what you have- that help me make the right decisions in my life. Harry Potter taught me to take school seriously, but also to have fun. I discovered a love of sports and music also because of how they are portrayed in Rowling's books.

If I could have a wish, any wish, I would wish that Harry Potter's world existed outside of the books and my imagination. I would love to learn spells, make potions, and study the history of magic. I am so glad that I have had the chance to learn about this world. It has been an escape from my everyday life. It has helped me through many obstacles in my life - dead grandparents, fighting (and alcoholic) parents, dissapoints on the soccer field, dead residents (at the nursing home I work at), ruined friendships, loneliness, puberty, and fear. I can not imagine my life without Harry Potter and I would love to go to the Harry Potter theme park to experience this world for myself, outside of my imagination. This sweepstakes is my one chance to go because otherwise it is too expensive because I have to pay for 4 years of undergraduate college and six years of M.D./Ph.D. study before going onto to complete a 10-year residency (with low pay) so that I can become a neurosurgeon and save lives.