When I was a kid, I would read almost all day, every day. It's probably the reason I have to wear glasses, and it's definitely the reason I love to write. These are the book series I read and reread as a kid that have impacted my life.
The "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling.
"Harry Potter" has only been around a little bit longer than I have, so I was able to grow up with "Harry Potter," but I also grew up with "Harry Potter." My mom is also a hardcore fan, so I grew up reading the books and watching the movies. The Harry Potter series has been one of the few constants in my life; my situation is always changing, but "Harry Potter," for me, is eternal. I reread them as often as I can not only because it reminds me of my childhood, but also because it makes me feel at home. "Harry Potter" isn't just about cool wizards (although that's certainly a plus). It taught me many things that have stuck with me. For example, you can choose your friends, and you should choose the ones who will have your back no matter what. Now that I'm in college away from my hometown, that is something that I have to keep in mind. I have found a group of friends that I can trust with anything, even if we don't have to team up to defeat Voldemort. And thankfully, none of my professors are Umbridge.
The "A Series of Unfortunate Events" series by Lemony Snicket.
"A Series of Unfortunate Events" is one of my favorite series by far. Lemony Snicket has a way with words and managed to teach me what a lot of words meant without me knowing about it. When I was a kid, I flew through all 13 books and then read them again when I was a little older. And then when I was a few years older, I watched the Netflix adaptation (which I highly recommend). ASOUE taught me that the world operates in the grey area; that there are very few cases in which something or someone is completely one way or another. This has helped me develop multiple perspectives, so I always try to see something from all points of view before I make a judgment. Every action has a reason behind it, and I think it's incredibly important to evaluate the reason before you jump to conclusions about the person who did the action. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and you shouldn't judge a person without getting to know them.
The "Percy Jackson" series by Rick Riordan.
I started the "Percy Jackson" series around 2nd or 3rd grade, but I continued to read and reread it well into middle and high school. Riordan used "Percy Jackson" and the allure of Greek mythology to teach several important lessons. The lesson I have kept most closely in mind is that it is important to stand up for what you believe in, even if you're scared. Fear is what reminds us that we're human, we're mortal, and our actions have consequences. But it's also important to overcome that fear in order to do what is right. Even if all of the odds are against you, you should always do the right thing. I would rather fail, knowing that I tried my best, than to never have tried at all. Moving away to college and living on campus was really scary for me, even though I am only two hours from home. I was afraid that I wouldn't make any friends and that I would spend all of my time in my dorm alone. Even though I was scared, I knew that I was making the right decision, and it would get easier over time. And it has!
