By Chelsea Wallace

In the month of June, 2014, 16-year-old Ethan Hill went through a life changing experience that has forever left a mark on him and his family in the most positive of ways: He moved to Lisbon. For six years of his life he lived with his mother in North Cedar, Iowa. However, even though Ethan did like it there, he always felt like something needed to change.

“I didn’t want to move,” said Ethan, a sophomore. “I liked North Cedar and I had some good friends and family there.” He said the hardest part about leaving was moving away from people he cares about.

“It took five whole years of planning the move, plus an added two more years to get all the money together we would need,” Ethan said. Even though it was long and painful, Ethan said he does not regret for a second the decisions he and his family made.

Currently, Ethan is living in a cozy country house with his father in Lisbon, Iowa. Ethan said living in the country is a much nicer way of life than in town. “I love the quiet,” he said. “It’s so peaceful. Plus, we can have big bonfires with our friends and family now which is awesome.”

“Moving is not an easy process. Ever,”  Ethan said. “It takes so much hard work and a lot of patience. It’s so critical for everyone to get involved.”

Even though Ethan admits that his move was a bit of a “pain,” he  says that it was one of the best decisions he and his family ever made. “My move was definitely worth it in every way. Lisbon is so great and I just feel so welcomed by everyone. Plus, Mount Vernon High School is awesone. The people here are so much nicer.”

When Ethan told me he was involved in building his new house, he immediately perked up. His eyes grew wider and a slight smile spread on his face. “I helped my dad dig out the basement,” he said. As one might imagine, this isn’t an easy task. “It took days. I didn’t think it would ever be done!” so by the time they were all finished, Ethan and his father were incredibly proud at the work they had accomplished.

Besides missing his mom in North Cedar, Ethan says he absolutely loves attending Mount Vernon High School and doesn’t want to move again. He says that people here are so mature and polite. “The school here is so clean!” says Ethan.

Since he’s been at MVHS, it’s quite obvious to tell that he fits in well with almost anyone and he’s very good at making friends. Not only is he popular among peers, but he is also very involved in sports and takes quite a bit of pride in his abilities. Ethan will participate in football, baseball and soccer. He loves the good sportsmanship that Mount Vernon strongly pushes.

Being a high school student is tough–especially when you have to go through something like a move. For a lot of teens it can be a bit scary or even traumatizing. This wasn’t the case for Ethan, though. He stays positive about his life and looks forward to spending many more years in the Mount Vernon-Lisbon community.

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