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Overall, in the grand scheme of life, I think the most important belief I have is to always be kind to people because you never know what they may be going through. I try my best to achieve this in my daily life and I hope to continue this as I get older. These various books, movies, and especially music have all influenced my life for the better and showed me how to be a better person. I think music is so important and people should listen to lyrics much closer than they do. I also think everyone should have the opportunity to see at least one Broadway show in their lifetime and to give musical theater a chance because it is truly life changing.

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Legally Blonde tells the story of a young woman named Elle Woods who gives up her sunny life at UCLA and ventures to Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. She ultimately realizes that Harvard Law was where she was always meant to be, but not because of Warner. The movie is typically looked at as just a silly film about a dumb blonde, but I think there is a lot we can learn from Elle. Since exploring more of the musical version of the film, I have grown to identify deeply with Elle and she represents many of my core beliefs. First of all, Elle was always unapologetically herself. No matter how many people gave her stranger looks or told her to start wearing navy instead of pink, she stuck to her guns and maintained her individuality. She never let the stereotypes write her story either and broke them with success. Although, I think the biggest takeaway from Elle’s story is persistence. Even when all of the odds were against her, Elle continued on towards her goal. Her resilience truly inspires me to continue on in the face of resistance.

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The album Reputation by Taylor Swift represents a strong shift in Swift’s image as an artist. From the start of her career, Swift has always had a complicated relationship with the media who has depicted her as a serial dater. In Reputation, Taylor decides to take back control and write her own narrative. She took back her image and decided to no longer tolerate others taking advantage of her. Reputation taught me to stop caring about what others think and just to do what makes me happy despite if that makes others happy because a lot of the time you’re never going to be able to satisfy everyone. Songs like “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” really bring home this message that no matter how hard you try to mend relationships, some people will just never change and that’s okay. Therefore, you should just keep doing your best and do what’s best for you. It also taught me that the people who really care about you will stick around and and stay by your side with songs like “New Years Day”. I aspire to live my life with the same mentality as Swift and not listen to negative opinions.

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As a whole, the Harry Potter series has changed my worldview.  This was the first book series to show me how influential books could be. One of the most important lessons this series taught me is to trust your gut and take risks. Imagine if Harry had never gone with Hagrid that first night and how different the story could have been. In my own life, I have often gone the safe route, but Harry Potter showed me how valuable risks can be and that the risk usually equals the reward. Harry also chose to trust his gut and veer away from being friends with Draco Malfoy from the very beginning. Often times, I second guess myself and end up doing the wrong thing so I’ve learned through Harry Potter to trust my initial instincts because they’re probably right. In that same vein though, I also discovered that everything will end up okay no matter what. There are so many times in Harry Potter where everything looks grim for the main characters, but somehow they are always able to navigate their way through it. It can be so easy to just give up at times, but if Harry and Ron can crash a car into a tree that attacks you and make it out unscathed, I can make it through way easier things.

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fantasy & magical realism (children's / teenage)

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hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry (imaginary organization)

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hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry (imaginary organization);juvenile fiction.

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hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry (imaginary place)

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juvenile fiction / family / orphans & foster homes

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juvenile fiction / social themes / friendship

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juvenile fiction / family / orphans & foster homes

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juvenile fiction / social issues / friendship

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fantasy & magical realism (children's / teenage)

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Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins...

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When I first heard “Ribs” by Lorde, I was only 12 years old without a care in the world, but even then the song's message had an incredible impact on me. At the time, the song’s writer herself was only 16, but somehow conveyed a sense of nostalgia and remembrance of her youth though still a child herself. The song tells a story of the night Ella (“Lorde”) threw a party for her friends when her parents were away, but is so much deeper than that. It represents a transition to adulthood and the loss of childhood. Like Ella, I have often felt an anxiety about growing up and leaving what I have always known, but this song has shown me to look back on childhood with fondness and that so much more is yet to come. Lorde has such a profound way of working with music, and you can feel the anxiety she feels through the pace and intensity of the music. Even more powerful though, you can feel the exact point she found peace with growing up.  “Ribs” has also shown me that leaning on your friends in these transitional times can help you get through it. This song also showed me how powerful music can be. This is one of the first songs that ever truly made me emotional and swept me away. I believe music can be so transformative and this song represents that completely.