2013年
The mantis shrimp can perceive both polarized light and multispectral images; they have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Human eyes have color receptors for three colors (red, green, and blue); the mantis shrimp has receptors for sixteen types of color, enabling them to see a spectrum far beyond the capacity of the human brain. Seriously, how cool is the mantis shrimp. What might they be able to see that we cannot? What are we missing? ---Tess Moran, Class of 2016
翻译：螳螂虾能同时感受到偏振光与多色谱图像；他们有动物界最复杂的眼睛。人类的眼睛有三原色的受体；但螳螂虾却有十六种颜色的受体，令他们能看见远超过人脑所能处理的光线频率范畴。正经的，螳螂虾到底有多酷。它们可能能看见什么是我们看不到的？我们错过了什么？
解析：AADPS分类IV-c
字数限制：1-2页（250-500词）
If mantis shrimps were to form a society, they would see many things we would not. They would be able to tell the sickness of a specific member from the spots on its shell, the hunger of another from the hue of its underbelly, and the loneliness of yet another from the reflection of its right antenna.
Compared to mantis shrimp, we mankind have eyes that never see. Do you aware that your trustworthy colleague is the carrier of Hepatitis B virus, but fabricated a negative test result for the fear of losing her job? Do you aware that your humorous friend’s heart was recently broken by a girl, and he is weighing the various options of harming himself? Do you even aware that YOUR DEAREST LITTLE SISTER has a sexual orientation which was considered “peculiar” by those around her, but she will be married to a man tomorrow and remain sad for the rest of her life?
I do believe that my homeland was not the only one on earth that has this type of issues. In fact, we are programmed to follow the trend and hide the quirks in our genes. Day by day, we merely try to stick to our routine and assume everything is “according to the plan.”
No, there is no such plan.
I wish I could have the eyes of the mantis shrimp and see the multiple perspectives of our society. The differences serve to remind us of the similarity, that we are individuals of one and the same species in essence. How could we be so cruel and indifferent that we cling to the “norm” as a miserable, drowning grasshopper cling to a blade of grass? For some, we shall intervene immediately, volunteering to relieve them from their ailments. For others, it is us who need to rethink our own position and accept diversity as a positive part of life, a boon given to us that never ceases to produce beauty, love, and miracles. But above all, it is imperative for all of us to open our minds and hearts and to warmly embrace our brothers and sisters like never before.
留学文书译文（机翻）：
如果螳螂虾组成一个社会，它们会看到许多我们看不到的东西。他们将能够从一个特定成员的壳上的斑点中分辨出该成员的疾病，从另一个成员的腹部的颜色中分辨出另一个成员的饥饿，从另一个成员的右触角的反射中分辨出另一个成员的孤独。
与螳螂虾相比，我们人类的眼睛是看不见的。你是否意识到你值得信赖的同事是乙肝病毒携带者，但却因为担心失去工作而捏造了阴性检测结果？你知道你那位幽默的朋友最近被一个女孩伤了心，他正在权衡各种伤害自己的选择吗？你知道吗，你最亲爱的妹妹有一种被她周围的人认为是“奇怪”的性取向，但她明天将嫁给一个男人，并在她的余生中保持悲伤？
我确实相信，我的祖国不是地球上唯一一个有这种问题的国家。事实上，我们被编程来跟随潮流，隐藏我们基因中的怪癖。一天又一天，我们只是试图坚持我们的常规，并假设一切都“按照计划进行”
不，没有这样的计划。
我希望我能有螳螂虾的眼睛，看到我们社会的多个视角。这些差异提醒我们相似性，我们本质上是同一物种的个体。我们怎么能如此残忍和漠不关心，以至于像一只可怜的、快要淹死的蚱蜢一样，执着于“规范”？对一些人来说，我们将立即干预，自愿为他们解除疾病。对其他人来说，是我们需要重新思考自己的立场，接受多样性作为生活的积极组成部分，这是给予我们的恩惠，永远不会停止创造美、爱和奇迹。但最重要的是，我们所有人都必须敞开心扉，前所未有地热情拥抱我们的兄弟姐妹。
标化条件：GPA 3.8 TOEFL 115 老SAT 2320
ADPS老师文书点评：这是我个人非常喜欢和得意的一篇文书。芝大的文书题目向来非常发散，但如何结合题目来做深入的针砭时弊且让读者能够感受到第一手的真诚，是需要我们大家好好思考的。
家长感言：感谢AADPS老师的五星级指导。海归老师们真是才气逼人！