Change, America! Change! Together!; Chicago Essay: Where's Waldo?

Essay Option 6: So where is Waldo, really? (Write a one- or two-page response)

Presidency: A Fibonacci Sonnet.

Blue? Red? He paused. Better wear blue. The public would be comforted. Waldo leaned against the curtain behind the stage. Fire had consumed the city, releasing a red, eerie glow and unrestrained chaos. Buildings crashed as the smoke seemed to smile a sly grin and made the skyline appear to waver in the background. The image of the planes circling the towers like vultures swooping down to kill was etched into his mind, though he hadn't seen it in person-- he hadn't been allowed anywhere near the attack. He had, however, been allowed to make an entrance and climb slowly, carefully up the stairs of the White House with reporters flooding around him all screaming Sir, Mr. President sir, President Waldo, can you answer my question here, how did this attack happ- sir wait sir, will they attack again, excuse me, please sir! I don't know, Waldo had wanted to scream, I don't know when or where or how or why Al Qaeda has attacked us, I don't know why this had to happen during my presidency, I don't know how to comfort a mass of three million people when I can't even comfort or protect my own family, but I'm president so I have to know- and all that I do know is that in order for this to end, it is not they who we have to change, but ourselves. He could not deny that it would be difficult in the years ahead to lead his country down this painfully long road-- it was going to be harder than when Woof the dog ran off and caused a ruckus at the beach, harder than when his evil twin Odlaw spread rumors that Waldo and Wanda were sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g; it was even going to be harder than staring at two sets of terribly stained teeth in gaping mouths that screamed at Waldo when he told his British parents that he had changed his name from Wally, but Waldo took comfort in knowing that after all these years of searching for a president like him, the public was fully confident that he would restore America's pride, nationalism, diversity, and morale to its peak-what could he say, he was a natural Uncle Sam. Waldo nodded a thanks to the assistant as he was handed a bottle of water and thought about how he was going to tell his people that even though America was not going to be able to control the actions of other countries, it could take this opportunity to show the world that it was not going to take the bait and let this destructive bombing tear the country apart-instead, its citizens would forge bonds with one another that would live to overcome race, age, death, and time. Waldo was going to help people learn to comfort one another and understand that not every Muslim believed in the tactics that their peers used, and let the effect of this kind of bonding grow as quickly as numbers grew in Fibonacci's sequence until the world could see the love this destruction had turned into. Placing the half empty bottle at a table by his side, Waldo pulled gently at his suit, smoothed out the wrinkles with trembling hands, then guided his spotted, ice blue tie over his head, looped one end over the other, and tugged the point through. The commercial ended as the curtains rose, and Waldo looked at the sea of people while he walked to the podium. He saw copies of his autobiography, Where's Waldo: The Ultimate Fun Book . He saw "WALDO 2004!" signs. Waldo stood silently and waited. Change, America. Change. Together.

As the title indicates, I used a Fibonacci Sonnet in this essay. Please give me feedback on what you think I can change or fix, and do not be afraid to be blunt!

Although the topic of the essay is "Where's Waldo" the essay shouldn't be about Waldo.
The essay should be about you. The admissions officers need to know about who you are and what you can bring to their university.
I did not get that from this essay. This is a great story, a very well written one. But it misses the point almost entirely.

But maybe it's just me.
"help people learn to comfort one another and understand that not every Muslim believed in the tactics that their peers used, and let the effect of this kind of bonding grow as quickly as numbers grew in Fibonacci's sequence until the world could see the love this destruction had turned into."

You should be building off of something like this. I liked the Fibonacci's Sonnet. It's a unique idea.

I hear what you're saying, but I feel pretty lost as to how I can put myself into this story! Do you have any specific suggestions (because what you've highlighted seems to be a part of the passage that sheds light on my opinions, but perhaps not who I am.)?

This needs to be put in quotes.


Sadly..overall I still dont think this answered the question...where is he? Are you saying he is the president of the US? So he is Obama? ...I will say it is an interesting approach

Good luck.