Weaponizing Imagination by Lauren

Weaponizing Imagination by Lauren - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I was 10 years old, I was convinced I would receive my letter accepting me into Hogwarts. I may not have had a scar on my head or a pet toad, but I knew the wizarding school's secrets and history like I knew my ABCs. I remember running up to my parents and interrogating them about the mail they collected that day or any rumors they may have heard about broomsticks. Their amused smiles only made me question them further until I was certain this fantasy was, in fact, a reality.

Before watching the movies, my developing brain sculpted the castle's formidable walls, the forbidden forest's grim atmosphere, and the symphony of noise at a Quidditch match. I may have struggled to visualize certain aspects, such as dementors or even Dobby but, ultimately, each adventure stretched my creativity when picturing the world I was so invested in.

Come to find, my own interpretations may not have been exactly what J.K. Rowling was envisioning. The centaur’s unique appearance as half horse half human was far friendlier in my mind, resembling more of a pony than the towering beasts depicted in the movies. Although our imaginations varied, her typed thoughts and explanations transported me into a world I did not know but would soon come to recognize with familiarity.

An alternate universe ruled by wizards or an underkept mystery that awaits to be revealed are just a few of the infinite worlds books transport readers to. Descriptive wording and the author's diction control the fantasy that practically spills from the pages as our minds attempt to paint the intended image. Harry Potter exposed me to this realization… imagination depends on reading.

Outside of the original story told on paper, I also created my own subplots, such as visiting Hogsmeade with the Weasley twins, slurping Felix Felicis, and studying for an herbology test with Hermione. Consequently, reading not only indirectly forced me to utilize my imagination to create the setting but also produced endless routes for me to continue my personal exploration.

It has been a vital tool that strengthened my creativity from a young age and challenged the normalities we have come to know on Earth. Twisting the very concepts we are so familiar with, such as recognizing brooms as a tool and not a transportation device, is altered to fit the context of a story.

Our minds call upon the knowledge we have accumulated to mentally create a book's chapters, from the action-packed fighting scenes that elevate heart rates to the cheesy romances that leave readers squealing and feet swinging. Reactions such as these refer back to perception and identity. When it comes to reading, perception refers to how readers interpret and understand a story based on their own beliefs, experiences, cultural context, and emotional response to the text. When Hedwig unfortunately saw the end of his life, I was overcome with grief, partially because I had experienced a similar event in my life when a pet passed away. Forming these associations and connections allows readers to understand and relate to books on a more personal level, overlooking the storyline to see meaning and purpose.

Although my obsession with Harry Potter originally sparked my interest in reading, I used to loathe my mother, who could read a novel in one day. Choosing to read during my free time was once the last thing on my mind, considering I was too invested in scrolling online. However, studies have found that “reading books stimulates the imagination more effectively than watching television” (StudyFinds, 2023). Screens already provide audiences with visuals, consequently diminishing the need for interpretation. They eliminate the capability to combine perception with imagination, resulting in this essential tool losing its strength and horizons.

Imagination needs to be handled with the same consistency as mastering a skill or sport, such as Quidditch. It is a direct link to our creativity and problem-solving potential, consequently influencing our identities and perceptions. Reading unlocks the opportunity for imagination to blossom and grow as the storyline progresses. Harry Potter is just a scrap of the ingenious world that books allow us to picture and be enveloped in.

Reading requires imagination, whether it is science fiction, mystery, romance, or any genre. Readers merge their perception with psychological capabilities to be completely engulfed in the realm that authors aim for their audiences to experience. I may have never acquired a wand or been sorted into one of the four Houses, but my imagination brought me into the fantasy enough to feel like I was a part of the journey all along.

All of this is a long way of saying Harry Potter taught me the importance of reading—it is essential in keeping our imaginative abilities, and not simply letting it rot as screens are shoved into our faces.