How Harry Potter Changed My Life
Written by: Colin Rhoney
English 111 (A2)

Ever since I first began to read, books have always been a major influence in my life. My childhood was full of many memories of reading many wonderful books. I remember spending hours upon hours going from shelf to shelf, looking for new books. The library became almost like a treasure hunt, searching every row and every book before discovering just the right book to read. The most exciting part was when I would come across a new book that I could immerse myself into and imagine all the possible adventures I could have. The library became a safe haven, a place where I could escape the outside world and the troubles it brought, and jump into many great books where happy endings are endless.
As I grew up, my yearning and passion for books gradually turned into a lost joy. The excitement I got from going to the library was no longer present; the happiness I received from secluding myself from the world in my room, spending hours of time reading, was gone. All to be blamed by one small step in my life: middle school. So when, in ninth grade, a group of classmates longed for me to read a book called Harry Potter, I was a little skeptical and curious as to what it was and why they wanted me to read it.
Since my obsession for books was pretty much gone, I was a little hesitant and it took me a while to actually pick up the first book. After long debates and discussions of how fascinating the books were with my classmates, I finally decided to attempt to read this particularly long series. Even though I had not read a book for entertainment in a very long time, and I knew it was going to be a challenge to finish even the first book. When I actually did pick up the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, I was completely shocked at how easily it caught my attention and how