It has been more than a year since the last Hunger Games movie came out. I had been used to looking forward to another Hunger Games movie to come out that following year. I mean, I became a fan of The Hunger Games after I read the first book four years ago. I would ask for Hunger Games merchandise for Christmas and my birthday. The Hunger Games changed my life forever.

The Hunger Games is about the futuristic world of the United States where twelve kids, from ages 12 to 18, were forced to join this pageant called The Hunger Games. In addition, they had to fight to the death until one lone victor stands.

I didn’t know what to expect when I was reading The Hunger Games because as a book nerd, you never know what would happen to them after reading a certain book, or a book they read could change their life. I’ve been a book nerd since as long as I can remember. Sometimes when I don’t feel like watching TV or don’t have a lot of homework, I just read a book when I have free time.

I was very intrigued while reading it when I was in the seventh grade, but I didn’t actually read it until I was a sophomore in high school. I didn’t know there was a movie adaption of it until I saw a trailer of it. After I saw it, I thought, “I definitely should read the book.” So, I bought the first book at Barnes and Noble, and I started to read it instantly. After I read the book, I ended up loving it. I couldn’t stop talking about The Hunger Games so much that my English teacher let me borrow the other two Hunger Games books. It took me a week to finish all the books. Then, I wanted the rest of The Hunger Games books, "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" for Christmas.

When I saw the movie, I ended up a bigger fan. What I mean by that is, when I got the first Hunger Games movie on DVD, I ended up watching it ten times that year. I also got myself a mockingjay pin for me to wear every day. Good thing for me, I was able to see all of the Hunger Games movies in theaters. Also, not only did I get the mockingjay pins from all of The Hunger Games movies, I also got The Hunger Games t-shirts and jewelry. I even wore different mockingjay pins every day for four years. I was also Katniss for Halloween during my senior year of high school.

When I saw Mockingjay Part 2, I cried at the end of the movie. The reason was, The Hunger Games movie series was officially over. I cried at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 and Breaking Dawn Part 2. I just knew that when the last movie of the series came out, I would cry.

Katniss Everdeen has been my favorite Hunger Games character because not only do we have some things in common (like we both have little sisters). We both stand up for what we believe in, and we fight for the ones we love. I also like how she figures out who should be her ally herself because not everybody is able to decipher who they can and cannot trust.

Since I’m a big Hunger Games fan, it was harder for me because it changed me after I read the books and saw the movies. The Hunger Games taught me a lot of things. One lesson is there’s always hope no matter how bad the situation is. Another is not everybody you meet will be the person you trust unless you get to know them. Lastly, stand up for what you believe in. Those lessons were important to me as a reader and as an individual person because there were some people that I thought I could trust, but in the end, they weren’t trustworthy. I sometimes think like Katniss because I pay attention to my surroundings; I had to be careful when it comes to meeting new people because I wouldn’t know who I can trust until I get to know people.

The Hunger Games changed my life forever. I will forever be a Hunger Games fan. Like some of the characters say, “May the odds be ever in your favor.”