When I was 9 years old, I was introduced into the world of Harry Potter by a friend in my fourth grade class.

Visit any department store and you will be welcomed by white glowing lights, glittery red and green streamers, elegantly dressed up trees, classical festive music and signs that remind you that Christmas is on Dec. 25, lest we all forget and Christmas goes uncelebrated this year.

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. In the United States today more than five million people live with the incurable disease. By 2050 this number is expected to climb to 14 million Americans.

Although many parents and critics of video games claim that many of today’s video games are filled with violence and unrealistic virtual realms, they are not any worse than the alternative – creating games that simulate real life experiences and daily activities.

I was a leash child. It is embarrassing and shameful to admit, of course, but it still exists today. I remember having a bright pink colored strap placed around my wrist every time I would be taken out of my safe, cozy home to heavily populated areas.

While in Madrid this summer, my family and I decided to attend the presentation of the world’s highest paid soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.