In many ways, her nickname was a blessing. And in another way, it seemed like such a burden to her. But wherever she went, that familiar label seemed to follow her. She was known by her peers as 'Baby doll' Sarah. That was because Sarah, who was now 24, had a very youthful and innocent look about her. In many cases, people would mistake her for a girl in her teenage years.

Now Sarah was actually a pretty, perky, and bookishly intelligent young lady. She had long straight dark-brown hair, and a lovely innocent look in her big brown eyes. Sarah also knew how to apply make-up and accessories, but she usually didn't take the time to do so.

But what bothered Sarah the most about her youthful look was that she feared people wouldn't take her personality seriously enough. Many people, she thought, treated her like a young girl because she looked so youthful. Sometimes Sarah thought she many have been passed over for promotions on her job because of her baby face image.

Sarah, however, did try to improve her career possibilities by taking classes a couple of nights a week at a local business college. While at school, Sarah met and started dating a nice looking young man named Bill. But while Sarah and Bill were dating, Bill noticed that Sarah would usually insist on sitting close to the front of the movie theaters whenever they went to see a film together. Sarah would also frequently complain that she hated driving at night because it was so hard for her to see.

In the early part of their relationship, Bill, who wore glasses himself, asked Sarah if she had her eyes examined lately. Sarah, who was not completely honest in her answer, said that she had an eye exam recently, but she checked out with 20/20 vision. Sarah, however, was actually in denial. That was because since her late teens, Sarah's distant vision had gotten progressively worse over the years.

After a while, Sarah's bare-eyed myopic inklings were becoming a source of irritation to Bill. One night Bill noticed that Sarah could not read many of the street signs from the passenger seat of the car that Bill was driving. Later, when they both got to Bill's apartment, Bill boldly but gently asked Sarah, "have you ever thought about wearing glasses?"

Just then, a nervous chill went down Sarah's spine. Sarah then replied with a nervous laugh, "well, I don't know if I actually need glasses. I just kind of always thought that my poor night vision was just a vitamin deficiency."

Bill then said with a sly smile, "actually, if you did get your eye checked and if you do end up needing glasses, the glasses might end up enhancing your pretty face. In a way, I think you might end up looking more... sophisticated, and even established."

Just then Sarah blushed. For she knew that en eye exam would eventually be inevitable. As a result, Sarah decided to confess part of her dilemma to Bill. "Well, to tell you the truth, I sometimes would wonder if wearing glasses would help give me a more intelligent and mature look," said Sarah with a coy smile.

"In some ways, I would even dream of wearing dark cat-eye glasses of even heavy framed horn-rimmed eyewear. To be honest, I even thought they'd look cute on me. But then after a while, I'd just scratch the idea. I guess I've always feared that I'd end up looking like, well, you know...a geek!"

Bill then responded by saying, "I used to have those fears at one time myself. Before I moved to California, I almost always wore contacts all the time. But since I have a young look myself, I decided to try wearing my glasses most of the time now. Since then, it seems like people have been taking me more seriously. "It might all be psychological, but ever since I started wearing my glasses more often, it seems as though peoples perceptions of me as a person of intelligence has improved."

"Well," replied Sarah, "I'm not 100 per cent convinced that I actually need glasses. But, if you're willing to stop by the optical store with me, I'd like for you to see how I'd look in some of the model eyeglass frames tomorrow."

The following day, Sarah tried on several model frames at the optical store. As Sarah put on the cat-eye frames, Bill said, "you look absolutely stunning." Sarah chuckled slightly and then blushed.

"Do you think you're ready to make the jump into the world of the eyeglass wearing crowd?" Bill asked. Sarah then coyly said, "well, when I get a chance, I'll at least try to squeeze an eye exam into my schedule."

With new years coming up, Sarah somehow managed to get an eye exam scheduled right after Christmas, but didn't mention it to Bill. But it was right then that the doctor's diagnosis officially revealed to her that she was nearsighted. Her prescription read -2.0 in the right eye, and -2.25 in the left eye. Sarah then promptly picked out a pair of cat-eye frames along with a set of horn-rimmed glasses that she thought she would look good in.

And then came that nervous moment, when eyeglasses would finally don Sarah's baby doll face for the very first time. As the bright faced lady optician set the cat-eye glasses on Sarah's pretty face, Sarah's response was an emphatic "oooh" as she peered through her new lenses. "I haven't seen this clearly in years," Sarah exclaimed with excitement. Sarah then beamed at her cute newly bespectacled image in the mirror. "I guess we've got you looking sharp and professional," said the optician with a smile.

The following day was New Years Eve, and Sarah and Bill were planning to attend a local New Year's Eve party. Bill was still unaware of Sarah's new glasses. Later in the afternoon, Bill came by Sarah's apartment. When Bill buzzed Sarah's intercom in the apartment lobby, she told Bill to come right in, as the door was open.

As Bill walked in, Sarah was busy at the mirror preparing herself for the upcoming evening. Still not yet wearing her glasses in front of Bill, Sarah turned around and faced Bill.

Already Bill was thrilled, as Sarah had done her make-up and accessories in high class fashion. On top of that, her nicely manicured and pedicured nails sparkled like jewels. She also had on a long but stylishly retro pearl necklace, along with a small but highly noticeable toe-ring.

"Whoa," said Bill. "I really like that new high maintenance look about you." Sarah smiled and said, "I guess it's part of my new years resolution. From now on, I decided that I'm going to boost my hygiene level just a little bit more."

But Sarah still continued to grin with her mysterious pixy smile. And then Sarah said, "But there is one more resolution that I'm going to implement tonight." "And what would that be?" Bill asked. "From now on," said Sarah, "I'm going to see clearly."

Sarah then reached into her purse, and pulled out her comely pair of cat-eye glasses and slid them onto her face. Bill was so electrified that he said, "wow, you look sharper than a samurai sword! Those glasses help bring out the real you."

Sarah responded with a huge smile, and meekly asked, "so I take it that means you can get used to me looking like this?" "Definitely," said Bill. "Good," said Sarah with zeal. "Because now that I have these glasses on, I don't want to ever go without them. This is the new me. "And this clear vision is awesome. Even though these glasses are for a distance, I feel so focused in, even when I'm reading!"

Later in the evening, Sarah danced with zest. "I never knew you were so into your dancing," said Bill. "Well, actually, I haven't been for years," said Sarah. "But when my eyesight started to go bad in my late teens, I was getting rather clumsy out on the dance floor. I guess my newly refreshed vision is bringing a lot of my fervor back," she added with a laugh.

And as time went on, Sarah noticed that people were beginning to take her more seriously in life too. Along with that, Sarah's career even started to advance professionally. In the long run, Sarah still maintained that youthful look about her. And her peers still called her 'Baby doll' Sarah.

But somehow, that new look in her new glasses seemed to enhance Sarah's appearance in a way that helped bolster her self-confidence.