Monsters by Tali

Monsters by Tali - June 2014 Scholarship Essay

In the small town called Dreams, the children talk of monsters. Not the monsters of their imagination, not the monsters of movies or tales, but the monsters which live, quite literally, under their beds. Every boy and girl has one, and every monster is different. Some are furry and gargantuan, others are slimy and angular. Every child has a monster, except for one: his name is Ezra. Ezra has never seen his monster. His classmates are astonished and even his parents tell him he should search for his monster. Everyone needs to face their monster, his parents say, or else it will never go away. Pushed by his loved ones and tempted by curiosity, Ezra decides one night to reach under his bed. He touches something, but it is not what he expects. Ezra finds not claws or teeth or tentacles, but rather a hand--the hand of a little girl.

This is the story I would write about in a book. It is an idea I have had for a while, and it has become very personal to me as I have developed the plot and the characters. When I first decided to start making a book, I knew I wanted to write about something I have wrestled with for years: fear. For me, this story would be representative of the individuality of fear, of how fear can manifest itself into different forms for different people, and how the journey to overcome it is unique for each person. Ezra’s journey is about self-discovery and the ultimate choice between conquering nightmares or succumbing to them.

Throughout my childhood, my father often said to me, “readers are the leaders”. He showed me the multiple functions books can serve: they can be informative, entertaining, persuasive, and even inspiring. To this day, I read constantly. Reading is the mode through which I better understand the world; it is the way in which I obtain valuable insight and knowledge. I treasure the lessons I learned through books, as they have motivated me to pursue my dreams and cope with hardships.

As an author, I would want to create a story which readers could relate to and learn from. Just as the tales of Steinbeck and Salinger affected me, I would want the story of Ezra to inspire others. Growing up, there were many times when my fear or anxiety stood in the way of success or enjoyment in life. I would fret for hours over homework for school, when, in the end, the assignment would be easier than I thought or the due date would be delayed. I would worry about sleeping over at a new friend’s house, and I would end up not going at all. As I got older, I realized that I had allowed my worries to take control of my actions, and I had missed out on potentially great experiences. Through Ezra’s conflicts and choices, it is my hope that I could communicate to others the importance of prevailing over fears and letting go of apprehensions. I hope that readers who may have had similar struggles with anxiety can connect with Ezra and understand how to confront adversity with a spirit of confidence.