Finding Love in Harry Potter by Michelle

Finding Love in Harry Potter by Michelle - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

In high school students are required to read a number of books for classes. These can range from fictional classics to texts about science. But there is one book, whether for class or for pleasure, that every high school student should read: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The entire Harry Potter series is considered be a modern classic that will be read by generations to come. If a student is graduating from high school and has never experienced reading Harry Potter when they were younger, I encourage them to read the very first installment in the series. Even if a student read it when they were younger, it never hurts to reread it again. Despite the inclusion of children and magic in the storyline, Harry Potter is in fact is not just a children’s book about magic.

Once one gets past the surface of the book, they'll realize that it's much more than 11 year-olds going to a magical school. The main reason why I chose this book is because of the underlying theme of love within it and throughout the entire series. Unlike many other stories who try to display love, Harry Potter does it in a way that tries to encompass all types of love. Within Philosopher's Stone alone, readers witness the sacrificial love of a mother when we hear the story of how Harry's parents died, the love between two best friends when Ron takes the hit for Harry during Wizard Chess, the thoughtful love of Mrs. Wealsey giving Harry a Weasley Christmas sweater and so many more examples. I believe that any person of any age should learn these lessons about love from Harry Potter. When we're young we typically think of love only in the romantic sense, but Harry Potter shows us that love can take form in so many different ways. It's important for people to understand that love can be seen within all of the relationships in our lives. There is love when someone misses their parents on their first night alone at their college dorm, there is love when someone spends all night helping their roommate study for an exam, there is love everywhere. Reading Harry Potter really helps us to open our eyes these different channels of love.

Harry Potter is much more than a popular children's book, it's surprisingly a book that anyone of any age can pick up, read, and enjoy. Although its story takes place at a fictional school that teaches magic, everyone can relate to it. When Mrs. Weasley takes care of her children, we are reminded of our own mothers caring for us. When Harry, Ron, and Hermione converse together in the Gryffindor common room, we are reminded of those late night conversations we have with our best friends during sleepovers. Everyone can relate to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone because everyone has experienced these different forms of love, whether one knows that it's love or not.

To conclude, if anyone, whether they are a high school senior or a senior citizen, has still yet to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, I greatly encourage them to do so. It may be considered a children's fictional book, but it is a book that be enjoyed by all ages. Everyone should be able to appreciate the different ways love can manifest within their lives and for me reading Harry Potter is what helped me to open my eyes to the love all around me.