Harry Potter....The End Of An Era and The End Of My Childhood!

I wanted to write a blog that didn't neccesarily do justice to the books/films but more as a justice to how i feel about it and what it means to me....

When the first film was released i was 7 years old, so i can't remember what it felt like when i first saw that film and the majority of the others in the cinema. But i do remember going into WH Smiths and buying 'Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets' book and being so excited that it was my first real book that was in shops, and that excitement lead me to read about, the first five pages and then realising i struggle to continuously read a book and gave up.

The film that really got me back into my Harry Potter obsession was 'The Half Blood Prince' i saw it in the cinema twice and still cry to this day when Dumbledore dies and from then until now, i've been really dedicated to the story and let it be a huge part of my life. I first saw 'The Deathly Hallows Part 1' in the cinema 2 days before the official release (due to a staff preview at the cinema my best friend works at) at about half 10 at night and knowing that i had to be up at half 7 the next morning and not caring because this was Harry Potter and i couldn't even wait 5 more minutes to see it. I cried just like many others when Dobby died, feeling upset that this character that had always been there to protect Harry from danger, had been killed whilst saving Harry once again. I'll admit it that 'The Deathly Hallows Part 1' isn't in my top 3 of the series, mainly due to it being set away from Hogwarts, but then when you 'The Deathly Hallows Part 2' you feel like it's not just Harry, Hermione and Ron going home, but you're also going home with them too.

Hogwarts i feel has been a home to not just the characters but also to the fans, Hogwarts is where you've seen these amazing characters grow up from little kids to young adults but you've also seen the fans grow with the characters aswell.

I watched the premiere of 'The Deathly Hallows Part 2' in London on YouTube. Watching all those dedicated fans brave the weather for 3/4 days just to see the cast and crew walk down the red carpet and be there with them whilst they attended the last ever Harry Potter premiere in London, just shows how much of an impact J.K. Rowlings' words had on people. It made me feel extremely proud to be British and to also be just as in love with these stories as lots of others. Watching the last 20 minutes of the premiere was emotional for everyone who loved the stories, as J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson and Rupert Grint etc. expressed what this series meant to them. You witnessed what this experience felt like for them with the use of their words and their tears. But most of all you got to see how strong the friendship between Emma, Rupert and Dan is, they've spent over half of their lives together growing up and going through this adventure together and you can see just how much they all love and care about each other. There were many things that got to me in that 20 minutes....

J.K. Rowling:

"And of the actors i can only say I could never of dreamt that the talent that we had in these films but there are 7 that in private i refer to as the big 7 and that's Dan, Rupert, Emma, Matt, Evana, Bonnie and Tom they cannot know how much i love them what amazing things they did for my favourite characters and i just thank them for lending us their talent and all their hardwork"

"And then finally as everyone else has said but i need to say it most of all, no story lives unless someone wants to listen, so thank you, all of you, thank you for queuing for the books all those years, thank you for camping out in a wet Trafalgar Square....the stories we love best, do live in us forever, whether you come back page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home"

Daniel Radcliffe:

"I don't think the end of the story happens tonight....each and every person not only in this square but also watching around the world who will see this film and who have followed these films over the last 10 years, will carry this story with them through the rest of their lives and will affect what they do"

Emma Watson:

"Dan you didn't get lucky, you were and are the perfect Harry and will be forever"

"Thank you to Rupert for making me laugh and being such a great brother and thank you to Dan, same thing, i will miss you so much and thank you to Warner Brothers for making these films the way they should of been made....we went out as we should of done, on a bang, and i'm so proud to of been part of this"

Rupert Grint:

"A year ago when we finished i kinda thought i was kinda coming to terms with it and able to move on but this really has been such an important part of my life and i want to thank all of you that have just made these last 10 years, just the best half of my life, and Dan, i'm just so pleased i shared it with you two, i love you, i really do"

"I'm never gunna have this again....we're just going to have to make the most of it"


All of their words contained such love and emotion, it really creates emotion for everyone who has been a part of this phenomenal

I first saw 'The Deathly Hallows Part 2' on 13th July 2011 (once again 2 days earlier than the official release) and leading up to seeing it (once i knew i would see it that day) my feelings were all over the place, i was excited but also scared in a way. Mostly due to knowing that i would finally see how it would end, seeing how this incredible story would finally conclude. So as i sit in the cinema watching the very last film, i try to remember that this is it, after this there is no waiting for another film next year, but i was still struggling with the fact that this was the last one, i was struggling with the fact that i wasn't ready for this chapter of my life to end, and so even when the epilogue had finished and the credits were rolling, it still hadn't sunk in that, that was it. Throughout the film i cried 5 times, which i think just highlights what it means to me personally, baring in mind, that a lot of the time it was involuntary and i didn't even realise immediately that i was crying. I feel that the epilogue gave the series some sort of closure, I feel that the epilogue showed almost a loop, starting with the first film showing Harry, Hermione, Ron etc. going off to Hogwarts for the first time and then the very end of the last one showing their children going off to Hogwarts on Platform 9 3/4, which especially shows that even though Hogwarts pretty much got destroyed in the battle, that it was rebuilt and has remained to still carry on being not just a school but a home to wizard and witches. I also love the reasoning behind the names of Harry and Ginny's children, James Sirius Potter, Albus Severus Potter and Lily Luna Potter and also Ron and Hermione's children, Rose Weasley and Hugo Weasley. Harry and Ginny's children having Harry's parents names James and Lily, Harry's godfathers name Sirius as a middle name, two great headmasters Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape as a forename and middle name, and the influence that Luna Lovegood. And Then Ron and Hermione's children Rose which is Ron's initial and also Hugo which is Hermione's initial. It represents that Hogwarts and everything will still go on but with new students that have parts of previous students running through their blood and mannerisms.

To me the end of the Harry Potter series represents the end of my childhood in a way, even though i'm only 17 i do feel that now the constant of Harry Potter in my life has gone, it's time that i also grew up just like the characters have done. It's hard to put into words what it means to me, the realisation that it's over had been delayed and has just hit me. I'll admit it that really i am upset and feel almost like their is now a piece missing. I know it was just a story that was shown through many books and films that isn't real but it meant a lot to a great amount of people including myself. It's hard to let go of the characters and the people that played them, it's hard to imagine now that Dan, Rupert and Emma now will never be together like they used to, the first started as 11 year old kids are 10 years later, are now apart from each other and even though they will remain in contact etc. they'll never feel how they did whilst making these films and i think that's what is most upsetting of all.

I will never forget what this series has meant to me and i will continue to remember the story well, and regularly watch the films and reread the books but just to relive how great the characters were. Even though i feel sad now, the one thing that i think is....at least it happened, if it wasn't for Jo, none of this would of happened, Dan, Rupert and Emma, may never of met and be as close as siblings are, us as fans may never of seen how talented they are and we wouldn't have this great story, to tell to our children and grandchildren.

Harry Potter shall remain to stay in our hearts for as long as we wish it to be.

365 days ago....

I "left school" 365 days ago. I was scared that nothing would ever live up to the life i was living then, and the life that i really enjoyed and was happy with, would never be the same again. I had everyone where i needed them to be and that was perfect. I was afraid that i would lose touch with those people who meant something to me, people who i felt i couldn't possibly live without. A year later i still have those same fears but they're towards leaving the school entirely. 365 days later and there are people who i haven't seen since, a lot of them didn't mean enough to me to warrant needing to see them and see where their life was at. But a few of them, i miss, but don't necessarily want in my life because they may have changed and i may have changed and that would ruin the memory of them. Sometimes how you remember that person is what you need, that person who they used to be and what you don't want is that person they turned out to be. There are things that i could of done differently and probably would do if i had the chance again. I would make sure that i made an effort to see people that went to sixth form with me even though they had a completely different timetable as me. But really i'm satisfied with how i've dealt with the transition and the choices i made. I know that sixth form will never be the same as school and i'm not trying to make it that way because that would ruin everything that made it so memorable and great. 

I would love to go back to 25th June 2010, and just relive this whole year because even though year 11 was the best year so far, i would love to have prom again (even though i was dreading it for years), and know that it will be great and memorable and get to enjoy the last time everyone got to be kids and together as a group just one more time. 

Overall i'm ok with being at sixth form, it's as close to school as it could be and i've still got the people who i loved the most and meant the most to me, still there with me.

School is not for everyone, but it was for me. I can honestly say it has changed me for the better, i believe the last few years, transformed me into a honest and respectful person which was a result of my school experience. My school will always hold a special place in my heart, especially the people there and will always be one of the best times in my life. 

"how is it that i finished school exactly a year ago today, time is going to fast, soon it will be 2 years time and i'm not ready to leave, i don't think i ever will be"

I've been struggling to write a new blog recently, just feeling like there isn't much else to write other than what i've already written but i think maybe i can do better with some of the stuff i've written about in the past.

There are many people in this world that inspire us. For example artists such as Michael Jackson personally for me, he just proves that an individual can have an insatiable voice but can dance just as great and in doing so he is still remembered to this day, as not just for his singing but for his dancing also. His dance moves are still integrated in new routines day in day out and will probably be for a long long time.

But celebrities like Michael Jackson are not the only ones that inspire me. Day to day i'm inspired by One Tree Hill, the beat and the lyrics in a song, films that follow that stereotype of a love story but still manage to have an impact on me, the power of words, words make or break a person. All our lives we tend to be waiting for that person to say the right words, "i love you" "i miss you" etc. But sometimes you have to take control of your life and if you feel strongly about someone then tell them. Because if you don't, you'll just find yourself, waiting and waiting for something that might not ever happen. And then you realise 40 years have past and you're still not happy and maybe in a relationship that isn't going anywhere, but you're scared that if you end it, you won't have someone there who can make you feel worthy and loved, even if it is returned. I know it's not as easy as i'm making it out to be, there are reasons why some people are scared to show how they really feel, i should know, i only manage to say how i feel in a text or email, but at least i say it, whether it's with my own voice or not.

Just follow your heart and when you look back you'll have less regrets because at the time that choice you made was honest and was what you wanted at the time and that's all you can do.

11 months ago....

Another academic year over nearly over and time for reflection....I started the year wishing for it to be the previous year, where my entire year group were still together and i would get another additional year at school in the future years to come. 8 months later i still wish for that, but not as much, i know that a lot of things stayed the same, spending time with those that i love the most, still having to pull late nights/early mornings to finish essays etc. but this year i made new friends, a more optimistic approach with the years to come and learnt to work even harder than i've ever done before. The other day, i was in one of my exams, i finished writing half an hour early, with a headache and feeling drained, and thought to myself why do i bother putting myself through this, revising for exams, causing my stress and panic if i can't remember a certain quote or sociologist, but then i thought what else do i have? i haven't even got a part time job, or a specific career in mind right now. And right now, when i get out of this exam, i'll have the people that help me enjoy education waiting right outside the door. I have amazing friends who i could not live without and the best teacher you could ever wish for, who means so much more than just a teacher to me, as they provides me with 'hidden' support, advice and inspires me each and everyday without even knowing it.

You go through school everyday wishing 3'oclock would hurry up faster and that the summer holiday would be just around the corner. But i found as i got older and older summer didn't seem fun anymore, it seemed like a period of time, where i would be without the people that i spend 5 days a week with, who provide me with love and never ending fun and happiness. I left compulsory education just under 11 months ago and it was one of the hardest things i have ever gone through, baring in mind that i was returning to the same school in just over 2 months time. 11 months ago i said goodbye to people i have not seen since, including people that were at one point seen as my bestfriend(s), in a way it saddens me that i didn't even take a year to pull us all apart but in another way it's shown me who i really love and want in my life, and has allowed me to appreciate those that i get to see everyday.

The memories of school will hopefully always be in my mind, because i really do believe that they are the best days of your life. School is were i learnt how to follow my heart instead of head and allowed me to put that theory into practice, on more than one occasion. School provided me with a great education which i can be proud of especially shown in my qualifications, it taught me that if i want something really badly, that me as an individual will have to work hard each day to achieve greatness, especially if i'm not naturally talented in that area or if it means a great deal to me. It helped show me that teachers only want the best for you, they share everything they know with you, to help you achieve your dreams and to provide a comfortable life for yourself. Most of all it taught me that if i want something really bad then i have to be persistent and be prepared to fail before i can achieve that greatness, as failure helps motivate and provide you with a drive to stop failure recurring in the future.

When i was waiting for my exam results last year, i reminded myself of this...."what ever is on that piece of paper doesn't change you as a person, it just determines whether your path to greatness is a smoother journey or requires you to work a little bit harder."

Do you ever feel that you love someone who doesn't love you back? I do. Everyday. I have done for the last 2 years. You try to be a better person who achieves high things and be the best possible version of yourself, but everything you do doesn't seem to ever be good enough, for them to tell you those three simple words. I love you.

I use those words every single day of my life, to show the appreciation i have for the people in my life who i think deserve to know that someone loves them. It's not everything to be told that you're loved but it gets to you when you don't hear it. Right now, i should be revising, working towards a future which is not yet determined and the path i take is not yet chosen. But once again, i struggle to have a clear head which isn't full of all these thoughts.

Today i discovered a song by Gary Go, it's called Wonderful. In the chorus the following line is said "say i am wonderful". I felt it just related well to what i'm feeling. And most likely what a lot of other people around the world are thinking.

Hopefully one day i'll get that "i love you" that i've been waiting for, if i don't then that's how it's meant to be....

Music!

As i sit here in the comfort of my own bed listening to my music collection that is itunes, i often wonder what the real message is behind certain songs....

For instance, a relatively new song sung by Sean Kingston featuring Justin Bieber, called Won't Stop....there's a specific rap in the song, which is sung by Justin Bieber himself, it goes....

"Yeah, they talk. Yeah, they talk. 
They don't walk the walk I walk. 
I won't stop, 'til I drop. 
Until then, I reach the top. 
I'ma rock to where I need to be. 
Walk the path of destiny. 
Definitely been neglected, but God is always testin' me. 
Rest in peace to all the men that died that were protecting me. Objectively, I need to tell you what just gets the best of me. 
Essentially, people in this world just wanna let it be. 
A lot of men ain't different though, just let it be. 
Set it free. 
Never be scared to make change, effectively. 
Always look at things from different ways, perspectively. 
Every person in this world can do good. 
I just want this message understood. 
Alright.. stop. 
Everybody's gotta listen make the decision to envision a better place with no division. 
Religion. 
Everybody needs a mission. Haters need to stop it, just listen."

The one line that really sticks out to me is "Rest in peace to all the men that died that were protecting me" - it just shows that even at the age of 17 (he may of been 16 when he wrote it) identifies what people do for their countries, they go out to war protecting their country and everything that is contained within it, their mothers, their fathers, their wives/husbands, their children. And for him to also respect that and present that respect in a song, i think really highlights what a great artist he is. Justin Bieber is the name that you will associate with either screaming girls or people saying "why are you listening to him?", i've been a huge fan for JB ever since he released his first music video "One Time", you could tell he had talent just from his voice, but then when you found out that he taught himself how to play the guitar and the drums and the piano and is great dancer you knew he was special. Not just the 'media' side of him is inspirational but also how he is a great role model, you often see him on Ellen DeGeneres show, doing something, whether it's giving his hair to charity or just surprising Ellen and the audience. I discovered today that there is the kid in Australia called Casey Heynes that had been bullied for pretty much his whole school life and one day he stuck up for himself and fought back, JB saw this and whilst touring in Australia wanted to meet Casey, so after briefly meeting Casey, he invited him and his family to one of his shows with VIP tickets and met him again were JB was talking to Casey's dad and sister about the video and the way JB interacted with his family, was just incredible, this is a kid that is barely 17 and is promoting anti-bulling throughout his tour and can talk to these people like he's known them for years and has been in this industry for all his 17 years and the end of the 'interview' Justin said how proud he was of Casey and asked him to go on stage briefly in the gig to help promote anti-bullying. This kid is an inspiration and should be proud of himself for all his life....I personally can't wait for what he releases and does next....

Another song that i think has a real message is Jessie J's Who You Are. This song speaks of nothing but inspiration, just like a lot of Jessie J's songs, but this one is a personal favourite. It tells its listeners to just be themselves and that even when times get tough and get to you, don't lose your true self because really that's all you have. Everything you are comes from deep within, your personality, the way you treat people, the way you want to be treated, everything. A line i adore is "It's ok not to be ok", often when your upset, you'll question why it is and whether it's acceptable to be feeling this way, but that quote is proof that even if you're down, it's perfectly acceptable, because we're all human, and certain things will have a negative effect on us and it's totally fine, because once you're over it you'll still be you!

There are so many songs out there that will inspire different people for different people, whether it's just a word or a line or a verse or a chorus, it still has an impact on your thoughts, which shows that music is doing its job. Songs are meant to have an impact on you, they'll be artists like Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Carolina Liar, Jackson Waters and Daughtry that i'll listen to when i'm angry or upset and they'll be artists like JLS, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Katy Perry that will really motivate me to do some productive that day. What i'm saying is everybody's music taste is varied, you just need to find the music that is suited to you and allow it to blow your mind, with it's inspire and hidden messages. An actress/singer called Karen David once said in a blog, "if the nerves are kicking in or you need that extra pick me up, why not try playing your favourite theme song in your head? Play it and play it LOUD"  - and she could not of been more right! 

Find you theme song and let it change your day....

9/11

On September 11th 2001, America experienced something that is near impossible to describe and to do so would not show it justice. America faced the destruction of the Twin Towers, the noble citizens on Flight 93 and the disfigurement of the Pentagon cause by a hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 plane. The result of every attack that occurred was significant amount of murder.

Today saw the brave actions made by Barack Obama to kill Osama Bin Laden finally conclude. Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the death of nearly 3000 innocent people across the world and the reason why family's were ripped apart, why children have had to grow up without their mother or father and why a small group of ordinary citizens with ordinary jobs on Flight 93, chose to sacrifice their own lives which belonged to them and their families, in order to save a mass amount of fellow citizens. The death of Osama Bin Laden is being described as justice, some how i don't see it as complete justice, he was responsible for loss of lives of many variations of people, whether it be by nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion and race. He caused devastation in many homes across the world, he's the reason why September 11th will never be just a normal day, instead it will be a day where many individuals will have to remember what was taken away from them. Justice hasn't been done, but today has allowed it to be closer to it then it ever has been.

The bravery and selfless deed by the passengers on Flight 93, highlighted that even on a day that had already experienced tragedy cause by a small group of people, there were people who existed in the same country who were willing to give their lives for others. Their chance of survival was almost non existent no matter where the plane crashed, however, they still managed to be heros' in a time of desperation, their actions to challenge al-Qaeda meant that Flight 93 crashed in a deserted field, instead of land populated with citizens.

The moral story in all of this is, there may be people in the world that have different ideas and choose to use those ideas in order to create destruction among countries or towns or families, but in times of despair people will show who they really are, some people will become brave and fearless, some people will stand up for what they believe in and fight for their life, some people will run scared and pray that it disappears and some people will shock you and sacrifice their life in order to save anothers'.

If you had to risk your life for someone that you've never met before, who has never done anything to harm another life and would do the same for you in the same situation, would you? Would you feel it was reckless? Would you feel it would be the honourable and decent thing to do? Would you not even consider the idea of not even trying to save them? Or would you run?