YEp - no one will say you didn't meet the challenge! I do like the way you've handled DoF - but.... think it would be better if the pencil and sharply focused area were at the bottom of the image. If the picture started off sharp - and then fell off going towards the background, it would work better. Having so much blurriness right in the forground is distracting to me. Exposure seems spot on.
This shot really portrays the scale of the choices. The use of tight depth of field helps to create an uneasiness or insecurity about the choices still to be made. I like how the actual focal point is on the choices in front of the pencil, emphasizing the choice to be made rather than the one that has already been made. This is a really well executed shot.
creative idea ! it's just taking me back to the painful school time. it match the topic so well, just the line under the pencil is little out of focus.