Anyone who knows me knows that I have always been a huge "Harry Potter" fan. I've read each book at least three times and seen every movie at least 20 times (and that's a conservative count). In high school, I calculated that I'd seen "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" over one hundred times. No, I'm not ashamed. I wouldn't have re-read the books or re-watched the movies so many times if I didn't believe that I was getting something out of it. Along with the pure enjoyment of the Harry Potter series, I have learned many lessons that are as relevant today as they were the first time that I learned them.

1. Sometimes, you just need to stuff your face.

2. Don't upset your mother.

3. It's OK to correct people if they're wrong, just don't be obnoxious.

4. Don't let your strengths turn into arrogance.

5. Never be afraid to admit that you're wrong.

6. Always be true to yourself.

7. It's important to have optimism, especially during hard times.

8. There's always more to the story than you know.

9. The bad guy isn't always a bad guy.

10. Just because something terrible happens, doesn't mean it's the end of the world.

11. The people who love you will always be with you.

Even if you're not an avid "Harry Potter fan" or you don't particularly care for it, you can't deny that there are valuable lessons to be learned. I'm grateful for the impact that "Harry Potter" has had on my life.