Undergraduate /
UVA Favorite Word Essay- incognito [6]
So this is due Friday, (UGH), and I am insanely tired having just pulled an all nighter, attempting to write the favorite word essay. I had no idea what to write about, until I went to the bathroom to wipe off my make-up from the other day. I chose the word incognito. I really wanted to avoid flat out saying my favorite word is incognito, and state reasons why I like it etc. I tried to be creative, but in all honesty I have no idea if I am even answering the question with my essay, or if I am just rambling about nonsense. I just finished the essay like 10 minutes ago. I have a feeling that the last couple sentences are really terrible, but I am honestly too tired to judge, haha.
Anyways, any advice would be great, and please if you think I'm not even answering the question, then just say so. I'd rather have some honesty then more nonsense on top of my maybe-nonsense essay. Thanks a lot! Also, I know my essay looks long, but its roughly half a page, give or take a few words here or there, which according to the instructions is okay, (it says 250 or roughly half a page). Again, thanks.
Prompt is what is your favorite word and why?
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Every morning I wake up I put on a mask. With globs of ivory Revlon councilor I cover every inch of my face, filling the pores of my skin with a suffocating slime that is designed to hide every imperfection. I then paint my eyelids with a black tar in attempt to liven them up after another restless night. I stare into the bathroom mirror and force a smile, and stitch it into place. This disguise is key to my survival no matter how daunting the process may be, or artificial it may make me feel inside. Every morning I must go incognito.
I often wonder to myself what it would be like to reveal my true identity to the public, but as soon as one turns incognito there is no turning back. Being incognito implies a deeper sense of mystery, secrecy, and even sordidness that no other word can match. To be successfully incognito, one must be clever and carefully plan ahead. No one can discover his or her secret, whether it is an external or internal truth. Those who are incognito are in a constant battle as they face their worst fear every day: being exposed as a fraud. It takes courage to go out into the world knowing that one is operating under false pretenses.
Although incognito seems to infer a sense of villainy, it is important to understand that being incognito serves as a defense mechanism against the unforgiving ways of life. Every morning, I go incognito to protect myself from the public eye, by creating an external mask that shields my true appearance. Just as I become incognito, the girl next to me in history, or the neighbor across the street is just as likely to be incognito as well. The word implies that the person in question is in "costume", as if they are a part of a play. And as I reflect upon my favorite word, I wonder if I am the lead actress in this play, or if I am simply one among many who are incognito in a global production. For now, all I know is that I remain incognito.