My Own Hair?
Senior Cici Rionda explains why she is willing to lose a few inches every year.
The last thing I thought I would be doing in the middle of the college application process is chopping off 10 inches of my hair. Although I am subject to never even brushing it in the morning and just moshing it together in a bun, I am in love with my hair.
Supplements, essays, and questions have been the only things on my mind this week, so as I was braiding my hair The Locks of Love mail notification popped up on my screen, reminding me of my annual contribution to a special cause. Distracting me from the stress, and granting me perspective.
Countless children across the globe suffer from diseases and disorders, like alopecia or cancer, that result in long term medical hair loss. Along with the overwhelming struggles they face at such a young age of their battle with illness, these kids lose a piece of their identity, their hair.
The Locks of Love Organization, was founded in order to help fill some of the void of normalcy in these childrens’ lives. Locks of Love’s mission is to grant hairpieces to every child suffering from medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
Normalcy is already lost with countless doctor appointments and treatments for these kids. When they do have the chance to participate in regular kid activities like sports or play dates, they are often embarrassed by the attention of those around them to their baldness. Some of these kids are bullied and teased for their appearance as well. These instances force them to isolate themselves from normal kid activities, and take more of their normalcy away.
With these prosthesis, it helps return their confidence and self esteem majorly. These hairpieces not only fit the children’s heads in contrast to adult wigs, but they also have styles suitable for kids. Also regular wigs need glue or tape in order to keep it stable, these cause burning or irritation on the scalp, and keep the kids from being able to enjoy themselves, instead of worrying about the security of their wig.
Locks of Love grants these kids a bit of the normalcy they lack in their childhood; help give them strength to continue their fight by donating.
A haircut is usually a routinely simple process of trimming off a few inches to keep your hair healthy. Some people might notice the slight change, other times we don’t even see a difference. For me, cutting my hair means a complete change in my look as instead of maybe 2 or 3 inches, I would chop off 12-13.
When I was 8 year old I had the opportunity to donate my hair to Locks of Love. Once my grandma sliced off my braid with her scissors, I felt the difference already on the weight of my head. After I looked in the mirror I noticed what a change it made to myself. I was nervous about what others would think, and if I even liked it.
It was all worth it as soon as I received a certificate of gratitude for my donation. The organization, along with a thank you, put a picture of one of the patients with the biggest smile on her face in her brand new hairpiece. Her joy and newly profound confidence showed me the difference I made.
It inspired me to make that difference again. As one of the school’s spirit point events for the school year, the Care Club and Student Council partner in order to foster this event. Each student can volunteer to donate 6 or more inches to this life changing cause. Whichever grade has more inches, is granted the win.
So when Locks of Love came around my freshman year, I was stoked to kill two birds with one stone and help my grade in spirit and help one of my favorite causes. The same feeling came my sophomore year, and my junior year, and now my senior year. As soon as October starts, I know a style change is going to happen. Every year I donate, it gives me a sense of helpfulness to those who might be helpless. Even if it’s just for a portion of one hairpiece. Because that one piece is going to make one kid’s life that much easier, that much more enjoyable. Even if it’s just a small give back of normalcy, I would do anything to help.
So now I ask you, will you make a difference and donate?
To kick off this event, Care Club is having hairdressers tomorrow, Wednesday, October 3rd, during all three lunches for straight line hair cutters to benefit Locks of Love.