I was about 7 years old when my dad first read me "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Together, we fell in love with Harry Potter and the rest of the Wizarding World. He read me every book, narrating each character with slightly different voices and intonations. I have clear memories of being curled up on the living room sofa, with my head resting on his shoulder and the library book lying in his lap. He always used to have a glass or two of orange juice when he read, which he always kept neatly on a wooden coaster to prevent condensation from ruining the small wooden table. My mom would always make me brush my teeth and get into pajamas before reading in case we read past my bedtime and I fell asleep. When this happened, they would carry me upstairs and tuck me in- my little head full of dreams about wizards and magical schools full of moving staircases.
On June 26th, 1997, Joanne Rowling published "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." Joanne's book was initially published by Bloomsbury under the pen name J.K. Rowling, then published again a year later by Scholastic Corporation as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Just like that, Joanne Rowling changed the world.
Almost exactly 20 years later, I had the opportunity to travel to Universal Studio's Island of Adventure and experience part of her legacy firsthand. My girlfriend and I rode broomsticks through the castle, flew in the talons of dragons, and walked the streets of Hogsmeade with Butter Beers in hand. Being there, completely surrounded by magic, I actually felt like a child attending Hogwarts. It was incredible.
I could ramble on and on about the life and times of Joanne Rowling or about the success of her works, but I wouldn't be able to do either any justice.
Instead, I would just like to say: thank you.
One of Mrs. Rowling's most famous quotes goes as follows:
"We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all of the power we need inside ourselves already."
Joanne Rowling didn't just publish a few books, inspire a few films, and provide the perfect idea for a theme park- she transformed our world. Through her works and her words, Joanne succeeded in creating both a fan base and a culture. How was she able to achieve such a feat? By creating a fictional world intertwined with our very own, where she could use a cast of bigger-than-life characters to teach us important lessons about life regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender. The emergence of the Wizarding World brought with it an uplifting culture of acceptance, love, and compassion. However, it also found positive ways to deal with negative topics such as anger, jealousy, and greed. Without further ado, here are 51 lessons we learned from Harry Potter:
1. Acceptance
2. Dealing with Loss
3. Importance of Friendship
4. Compassion
5. The Power of Love
6. Rivalry
7. Overcoming Obstacles
8. Problem Solving
9. Empathy
10. Rebirth
11. Mercy
12. Understanding Other Perspectives
13. Sacrifice
14. Controlling Your Temper
15. Dealing with Jealousy
16. Respect Your Elders
17. Confidence
18. Hard Work
19. Avoiding Temptations
20. Accomplishing Goals
21. Optimism
22. Humility
23. Right vs. Wrong
24. Forgiveness
25. Accountability for Our Actions
26. Determination
27. Celebrating Achievement
28. Realizing Destiny
29. Trust
30. Avoiding Temptation
31. Standing Up for Others
32. Defying Expectations and Limits
33. Coping With Stress
34. Importance of Academic Success
35. Dealing With Disappointment
36. Circumnavigating Problems
37. Supporting Others
38. Following the Rules vs Following Your Heart
39. Leadership
40. Regret
41. Paying Off Debts
42. Feminism
43. Female Role Models
44. Family
45. Personal Identity
46. Adoption
47. Wealth/Status
48. Rebirth
49. Revenge
50. Romance
51. Honor
man running in forestPhoto by 
