Last First Time

Because I am a teacher - a teacher who loves reading and has a passion for instilling that love in every student who enters my classroom - and because I'm particularly emotional today, I feel the need to express what is going on in my heart today, as I prepare myself for the end of the Harry Potter era.

I grew up with Harry Potter - so much so that I feel like he is my fifth brother. People bring up the argument all the time demanding to know why I see him as such a hero. He lies, cheats, steals, disobeys authority, and many other horrible things I'm sure I'm forgetting. That's what makes him so special to me, though; he's human. Nothing about him is incredible, and he makes mistakes. He's an average/slightly above average wizard, who knows a little more about the dark arts than the others simply because of who he is. BUT he has a passion, a heart, big enough to conquer all evil. He takes on problems that are much bigger than he is, and because of this passion, because of the love and loyalty he feels for those around him, he is able to succeed. He epitomizes all the values I hope to instill in my students and my own children: friendship, loyalty, family, care, strength, endurance, bouncing back.

At midnight tonight, theaters all over will be showing the last movie in the Harry Potter saga, and I'm devastated. I know, there's nothing new in the movies - I've read the book. I've been clinging to these movies though. They kept the story alive. I know I can reread the books and watch any of the movies anytime I'd like, but there's something about the first time. There will be no more first times.

I cried when I finished the last book (which I devoured in one day - just because I couldn't stand to not know what was going to happen - now I wish I had taken some time and really cherished that last first time).

I'll probably cry tonight.

To Harry Potter! To everything he taught me and to everything he'll teach people who continue to read the books!