<p>Hey guys, I know people don’t usually do this, but I really want to know the quality of my essay in the perspective of others. I’m anxiously awaiting the decision, and if I get rejected, I want to know if the quality of my essay had anything to do with it.</p>
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<p>University of Chicago Essay Option Three:
Spanish poet Antonio Machado wrote, ‘Between living and dreaming there is a third thing. Guess it.’ Give us your guess.</p>
<p>I remember the first time I visited the optical store at the intersection of Living Avenue and Dreaming Boulevard. </p>
<p>Welcome to Perceptions Lens! said Mr. Percy, the short, stocky optometrist. He looked down at me and pinched my cheeks. A new customer, I see! What a precious little girl you are! I have the perfect pair for you. He reaches into the display case and retrieves a tiny pair of white, foggy glasses that he precariously set on my nose. </p>
<p>But I can hardly see the world with these, mister! I protested. The silhouette wagged his finger at me. Thats precisely the point, Grace! Youre eyes arent ready to see the world clearly yet. Run along and Ill see you next time.</p>
<p>I walked out the doors holding my mothers hand, relying on her guidance to find my way home. In my room, I was safe from the vast world I couldnt make sense of. I picked up my Barbie, the most beautiful thing I ever laid eyes on. In my eyes, she was a regal queen, ruling her kingdom with unmatched elegance and grace from her idyllic castle on the mountaintop. </p>
<p>It wasnt long before the glasses became too small and I excitedly dragged my mother by her sleeves to the optometrist for my long-awaited second pair.</p>
<p>Grace, look at you! Youre almost as tall as your mother, proclaimed Mr Percy. Youll love these yellow specks. Go on, try them on! </p>
<p>Suddenly, I could see it all. The queens werent on sprawled on my bedroom floor with their faces frozen in a senseless grin. They were striding across the high school hallways in their high-heeled shoes while their Prince Charmings held their chemistry textbooks. I saw the warriors, armed with their shoulder pads and helmets, preparing to fight for our nations honor. I witnessed duels to win the affections of damsels and secret scandals between the ladies-in-waiting. Soon enough, the glasses became disorientating, and I returned to Perceptions Lens for my periodic check-up.</p>
<p>Hmm… what about these? Mr. Percy held up a pair of black-rimmed glasses and juxtaposed them with my face. I slid them on my nose and noticed Mr. Percy was shorter than I remembered. In fact, everything was smaller, and I suddenly felt tall. Thanks, Mr. Percy, I grinned. He smiled and told me to enjoy these glasses while I could. I didnt know what he meant. I planned on wearing these glasses forever.</p>
<p>I triumphantly walked onto the street with the wind in my hair. I swiftly hailed a taxi to take me to the bustling metropolis where I would establish myself. I was invincible, and everywhere I looked I saw ladders I could climb to reach the top of the world. I stopped at the foot of the tallest ladder I could find and began climbing the rungs determinedly. One day, I spotted a handsome young man on the adjacent ladder who handed me a pair of rose-tinted glasses. When I put them on, the restless city evaporated, and the ladders dispersed into tiny dust particles that rearranged themselves into Juliets balcony. The world was a glorious pink haze as I watched it unfold in slow motion.</p>
<p>I woke up one day and discovered that I had misplaced my rose-tinted glasses. I leaned over the balcony, scanning the vicinity wildly with my blurry vision, and suddenly lost my footing. I fell into the white abyss, flailing my arms wildly until I hit the soft, cushiony front lawn of Perceptions Lens. I staggered into the store and requested a replacement pair of glasses.</p>
<p>Its been a while since I last saw you, Grace. I think these specks will do the trick. He presented me with a pair of clear glasses. Hesitantly, I opened my eyes and saw the world from another new perspective. Thank you, Mr. Percy, I said as I walked out the doors. I think these are my favorite glasses yet. </p>
<p>The new glasses neither hindered my vision nor distorted reality. Through them, I recognized the flaws and attributes of each individual present in my life - including myself. I could see the inevitable comings and goings of friends, the occasional insurmountable obstacle, and humor in every seemingly hopeless situation. I soon found myself neglecting to wear them entirely; I could see perfectly fine without them. I decided it was time to pay one last visit to Mr. Percy.</p>
<p>I pulled my town car from my driveway on 210 Living Street and began driving towards Dreaming Boulevard. I suddenly hit the brakes, bewildered by my epiphany: after 3 hours of driving down Living Street, I realized that Dreaming Boulevard would never approach again.</p>