Thomas Pain once said “[a] long habit of not thinking something is wrong gives the superficial impression of being right.” Appearances are the first thing that attracts attention. Whether it's a top model, a famous photograph or the unmistakable golden arches: we take note. Essays written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Eric Schlosser, and Nora Ephron uniquely demonstrate the effect appearances have on individuals and our society. In Judith Ortiz Cofer's essay "The Story of My Body," she shares her struggle with appearance and self-esteem. Ms. Cofer admits that her definition of what she looked like changed when she moved to the United States at age eight. She states, “I was born white in Puerto Rico, but I became a brown girl when I came to live in the United States” (Cofer 323). For example, Cofer is identified as a palma blanca in Puerto Rico and as a black girl during her first encounter with color prejudice. In addition to the cultural dispute with appearance, Ms. Cofer displays an internal dispute with her appearance and size. At the age of twelve, standing five feet tall, Mrs. Cofer was viewed by her family as a tall young woman compared to her mother who was no taller than five feet seven inches. Her mother exemplified this by saying ""[s]ince you are so tall, this dress will look good on you"" (Cofer 326). His classmates at his public school in New Jersey viewed his appearance very differently. Mrs. Cofer was perceived as the "4F, thin, short, bespectacled" girl (Cofer 326) on the playground, impervious to the competition; while its real competition lies in the classroom it is what creates an initial attraction to one's other meaning; for example, Cofer describes her first crush, Ted, who she describes as "cute in yellow...center of the paper...photographic coverage of the events should be published regardless of topic, simply because the events had place. The author states “This is why photojournalism is often more powerful than written journalism” (Ephron 438), emphasizing that censorship harms the purity of death and that interpretation and judgment must be left to the reader establishes that appearances are memorable and powerful. Society's opinions always fluctuate, as is allowed, and censorship represents a grave threat to the right to form one's own opinions. This is why it is believed that appearance and first impressions are the most important thing. However, understanding what we see versus what we get is vital. It is imperative to venture beyond first appearances and impressions; sometimes there is honesty or deception. Appearances are not always what they seem.