Entertainer Will Smith once stated, “Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist." Reflect on your feelings about some of the fears that people may be experiencing based on current events and write an essay agreeing or disagreeing with Mr. Smith's stance on fear being a "product of our imagination causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist." Be sure to use evidence from your life experiences, current events, or from works of literature and film.

I came out as gay at age eight and was abused by my drunk, worthless, rude, low-life, idiotic, child-like, swinging "parents". My sister was neglected and I had to take care of her. At the age of two, she developed facial hair, then later at five a full blown beard. She had Hirsutism. It later got worse. They stole money from me and the beatings got worse. They were arrested for beating, cutting, and r.a.p.i.n.g me. They recently took their own lives on the morning of the first day of school this year. After the first day of school, after a long time of having Meningitis, my sister passed away at the age of 11. Her name was Grace. I am officially color blind and deaf out of my right ear from multiple untreated ear infections. I am 17 and not doing good. I hold on to as much as I can.