Love, lightsabers and Luke Skywalker

"Star Wars" is much more to the fans than a simple science fiction blockbuster, and the people that classify it as that often have never allowed themselves to be overwhelmed by the saga.
The lightsabers, starships, blasters and hyperdrives have a tendency to mystify (or discourage), but they are only a means to tell the legacy of the Skywalker family.
Behind the computer-generated images and special effects lurks a classic fantasy of good versus evil.
Love for the story
I am in my infancy as a "Star Wars" fan when compared to others, but I share with every fan the same passion for the saga. It's something inherent, something undeniable woven into a person from birth.
This thing isn't a love for just "Star Wars," but a love for the journey and the myth and the magic. George Lucas happened upon a perfect combination for the modern day.
It's about Luke's struggle to become a hero, Leia's rebellion against the Empire and Han's revolution from a scoundrel to a respectable man.
It's about Yoda's and Obi-Wan Kenobi's trying to correct past mistakes and Darth Vader's redemption.
It's amazing how close the viewers can become to the characters -- how we can know them so well. They become real people on the screen.
Decide for yourself
There are people who hate "Star Wars" for its farfetched ideas and flashy effects. They call the movies empty and the characters ridiculous. I've found that a lot of people base their accusations on opinions of critics and friends; I wish they would decide for themselves.
I did this before I became a fan. When I was little, I berated "Star Wars" because it "wasn't for girls." I also had never seen the movies.
Once my brother introduced them to me, I found that they weren't just for boys, and there was more to them than I thought.
Still there are those who have a genuine distaste for the movies. That's OK, because "Star Wars" isn't their passion. As long as they have given everything a chance, they have every right to not like the movies.
I used to want to change people's minds and make them understand what Star Wars means to me, but I've found that it's an impossible task. Everyone is different, and everyone has their own likes and dislikes.
I recently went to Indianapolis for Celebration II (a humongous "Star Wars" convention in honor of Episode II), and it was an amazing feeling to be around fans for three days. I learned what being a fan is all about, waited in lines to meet actors and see exhibits and finally met people that knew exactly what I felt when I heard the main titles.
XBethan, 16, will start her senior year at Canfield High School in September. She is a member of chamber ensemble and National Honor Society and editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. She works at the Canfield Dairy Queen and is an avid fan of "Star Wars," "The X-Files" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."