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MARCH 5, 2004 at 1:48 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: PR Newswire
The ninth grader won the grand prize
in the Verizon/Los Angeles Times' "Jazzed About Literacy" essay competition. He'll be sereneded by jazz musician and five-time Grammy winner Al Jarreau at his high school, along with other winners.
Snetiker -- also a volleyball player -- captures the feeling of reading a great story in his winning essay:
Whenever I read, I am no longer the same teenager who is sitting on his bed, eyes gazing at jumbled words on a page -- I am a different person. I'm Harry Potter, trapped in another Potions class with Professor Snape. I'm Sherlock Holmes, trying to figure out what happened to Sir Hugo's hounds. I'm Huckleberry Finn, journeying down the wild Mississippi River on an adventure with my best friend, Tom Sawyer. When I open up a book, I become the person I read about, and all of a sudden I am immersed in a world a teenager from California would never discover. It could be the mystical Middle-Earth, the historic medieval England, or even a galaxy far, far away. In other words, reading takes me to places I could never go, and introduces me to people I could never meet in my wildest dreams.
Be sure to read his entire essay - it's something all Harry Potter fans, and readers in general, will identify with clearly.
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Animagus
Points: 19544
Sirius-Ella says:
Cool! He sounds interesing..and did a good job on his essay! Hip Hip Hooray for Harry Potter
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 2:07 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2644
Orlando's Obsession! says:
good for him!
I CANT WRITE ESSAYS AT ALL:(
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 2:18 PM EST
Unspeakable
Points: 3920
stocco says:
Haha. That's exactly how I feel when I read Harry Potter. I feel like I'm there. As another Gryffindor, watching everything unfold. That's why I love Harry Potter so much!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 2:23 PM EST
Half-Blood Prince
(Moderator)
Points: 945
Professor Scoots says:
That is neat and I agree... When I read these books I am no longer myself, but transported to the world of Harry and Hermione. As I go along for their journeys and adventures. I can't wait to see what happens next in book 6!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 2:36 PM EST
Veela
Points: 3404
*venus* says:
That's awesome! I'm so happy for him! I totally agree with his essay. One of the joys of reading is that you feel like you're actually there! I always feel like that! One of the reasons I love reading so much ;)
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 2:42 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1908
Opera Ghost says:
It was a good essay! Congratulations to Marc, and everyone else who entered. They are already winners, because they love to read!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:05 PM EST
Student
Points: 279
MionePotter87 says:
That's exactly how I feel about reading...especially with Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. He wrote that so well...and it's like he was writing about me!
Hey, if you were basing that on me, I better get a part of the prize! ;) (Joking) :P
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:11 PM EST
Pesky Pixie Presidente
Points: 4359
Firebolt_909 says:
Lucky him! he sounds like a really talented person to have won that award. funny how he mentioned Harry POtter in his essay.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:23 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1022
Peitouche says:
It's great that they reward things like this. Good for him and all the kids who entered!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:25 PM EST
Witch
Points: 862
Lilison says:
It's fun that he is so excited about reading. I really admire kids who have read the series, it's no small job. Pun intended;)!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:30 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2119
hpchik898 says:
I totally agree! I LOVE to read!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:39 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
So cool! I agree with everything he wrote in that essay--congrads to him for wining the contest! Cool that his subject was HP!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 552
Gir Vasquez says:
Great paper. Theirs no doubt that books can take you into a different world, and make you feel like someone else. Congrates to the winner!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:44 PM EST
Witch
Points: 617
*_Johnny 4 EveR_* says:
Wow! his essay's really good. I wonder how old he is. And i totally agree with the part saying that he felt like he was there. I feel like i'm there with them and that the magic they do is actually real when i'm reading the books. congrats to the winner!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:46 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1417
Ravenclawgrrr says:
It makes me happy that teenagers are getting pumped about reading. I fear that TV and music (although very important to our culture) have taken the place of reading, although offering little educational value and inspiring no imagination!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:52 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
Id write an essay about HP. that would be soooo easy and i wouldnt even complain about doing it. its HP and thats all that matters. well go him. im going to go check out his essay. ill see if its good or not.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 3:55 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1368
Danzer says:
Good for him.I think the essay was good and good for all kids and runners up.Nice to see someone thinking of hp.When I read hp i pretend i am him aswell.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 4:01 PM EST
Points: 927
ChelCho says:
That was a great essay, very well written. I think it shows when someone is an avid reader, because it comes across in their vocabulary and in their writing. It certainly shows in Marc's case. He really hits the nail on the head on why reading is such an amazing thing to do.
I know that going to Hogwarts is something I can achieve whenever I want to; I just have to open up one of JK Rowling's fantiastic books, and I'm there. The Harry Potter series has also inspired me to do more writing.
Congratulations!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 4:22 PM EST
Witch
Points: 926
godrick_gal says:
I just wish I could have wrote essays like that when I was in high school, maybe I would have got better grades!
That was great and everything he said was true, like being in another world and stuff.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 4:22 PM EST
Professional Beater
Points: 20891
feltonluver says:
Haha wow that's a great thing about professor snape...yay for harry potter. Wish i could write a good essay though!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 4:31 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Professor Grubbly-Plank says:
I am impressed with the essay. I hated to write essays in high school. I think he did a great job.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 4:34 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1155
MissMaryPotter says:
That is exactly how it is, and how it was for me when I read Harry Potter for the first time. But then as I re-read the series I was felt more like the person in the back of Harry's mind observing it all. At one point I even felt like I was a shadowy ghost who followed him around on his adventures, or I was the silent best friend, that nobody talked to or could see, but I was there. It is only through Harry Potter that I feel I can acutally related and empathize, I've read other books and never felt that kind of geunine relationship with the characters... I guess that is why I feel so strongly about the canon of the material, and why I get upset by fanfiction writers who go about violating other characters in ways that I don't even want to phathom, because when they violate the characters, esspecially Harry, I feel like they are violating me. It's not sexy or funny; it is just wrong and disrespectful.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 5:33 PM EST
Honeydukes Sweetie Pie
(Moderator)
Points: 4719
Keng says:
I am just the same... whenever I read Harry Potter, I am taken away to another place. I can just totally relax and enjoy.
Also, when I re-read the books, I can pick up on so much more things. You all should try it sometime if you haven't already...!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 5:35 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1059
DarkMagic13 says:
Wow, interesting. He won an essay and mentioned Harry Potter. I love people who actually give Harry Potter a chance unlike some kids. Its an awesome book, and I'm glad to know that people read it. Interesting article.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 5:48 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 345
Mormon_Chic says:
cool.....this person sounds really interseting and i totally agree with what they are saying and congratulations on winning it Good Job!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 5:53 PM EST
Witch
Points: 660
Draco's little secrete says:
Thats cool that he won that chance to have someone come and seranate him. Also putting HP in his essay.
Posted Mar 5, 2004 at 5:53 PM EST
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