Shannon T Hannan

Living Under a Rock Shannon T Hannan

By the time I am a junior in high school, and we move into the Farm House, I have livedin nine different homes, have been to seven different schools, and have left behind more friendsthan I can count. Making friends has proven to be more difficult with each new school I attend. With the move to the Farm House comes optimism that it will be the last move and my mom, brothers, and I will finally be free of the dark creature. Up to now, the creature has proven to beelusive, resilient, and far too powerful for us to defeat. With the move into the Farm House, things immediately feel different. After all thesleepless, scary nights the creature has put us through, I have reached a point where I am nolonger willing to allow it to control our lives. I have to rid my life of the fear and angst that myfamily feels each day. But, when the creature comes out of the darkness and I am faced with allof its hatred and anger, will I have the courage and strength to overcome my fears and stand toe-to-toe with it? Will I be willing to put my life on the line to protect my mom and brothers andforce the creature back where it came from?One thing I have learned in my sixteen years is that, even if the creature is someday gone, life is filled with adversaries. I can choose to face life's challenges or live a life of fear andbecome helpless and empty inside. I must find a way to face the many other creatures waitingfor me or allow evil to control my life and beat me down until I am nothing. The decisionwhether to fight back against the dark beast will be a turning point in my life. It will define if Ihave the will power to overcome the many obstacles that will block my path to happiness andindependence. There is a question that weighs on me, though: even if I can finally defeat thecreature, will it ever really be gone or will the scars it has left behind in my mom, brothers, andme haunt us for the rest of our live