Dear J.K. Rowling,

When I was in the fourth grade, at the mere age of nine, I experienced my first love. He had floppy black hair, circular glasses to frame his face, and wonderful friends to guide him through the ever-growing perils of his everyday life. His name was Harry Potter, and the lessons that he taught me carried me far beyond that tiny blue chair in my elementary school classroom.

Harry taught me to be brave. He taught me that whether it came to dealing with the evils of the world, or perhaps just the evils of the classroom (a.k.a. Dolores Umbridge), it is always essential to stick up for yourself, as well as for those around you. Whether Harry was facing Lord Voldermort, or simply defending a first-year Nevillie Longbottom from that bully Draco Malfoy, Harry almost always did what was right.

Harry taught me to never judge a book by its cover. When everything appears to be following an obvious pattern, things may not be as they seem. This also goes the same for people. Those who appear to have your best intentions at heart may actually be plotting your demise (like Barty Crouch Jr. in "The Goblet of Fire" when he posed as Mad-Eye Moody using polyjuice potion). However, more importantly, Harry Potter has taught me that even those who maintain a hard exterior can posses the greatest amount of love of all (Professor Snape caring for Harry throughout the novels, as well as Snape's relationship with Dumbledore). Initial judgements are not always correct, you must truly know someone's story before you truly know the person.

The "Harry Potter" series has taught me, above all, about love in its truest form. Love holds no boundaries and can conquer all, despite how unconventional it may be at times. Whether it's the ongoing connection between Ron and Hermione, or the long-lasting love that Snape held for Lily (always), love was a prevalent theme. Love was able to keep Harry alive when Voldemort murdered his parents, and Harry's love for his friend, as well as the rest of the wizarding world, is what allowed him to return when he faced the Dark Lord for the final time. In times of darkness and trouble, love will carry you through.

For all of these lessons learned, I must thank the wonderful and talented J.K. Rowling. Although some may look at her as merely a "writer of books," she is so much more than that. J.K Rowling was a teacher, relaying life lessons to her millions of readers around the world. She is an inspiration, using her ideas and creativity to encourage others to think openly and consider the impossible. For myself, and many other "Potterheads," Rowling's books have become a staple of everyday life. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" had my Dad driving almost two hours to the nearest Walmart just so I could read the book the day it came out. This, in itself, was an example of the sort of love Rowling has written about.

A few months after our Walmart trip, my dad passed away very unexpectedly. In one of the darkest times in my life, that memory, as well as many others, helped to remind me of the everlasting bond between my father and I. The "Harry Potter" books are so much bigger than the pages themselves. They have shaped my life like I never believed a book could. As cliche as it may sound, I do not know where I would be without them. I owe a huge thank you to J.K. Rowling, for forever changing my life through her lessons of creativity, generosity, and most importantly, love.

Always,

A lifelong Potterhead