It’s a brand new year which means it’s time for a brand new you!  In the spirit of revitalizing my look for a new year, I decided to do the most daring thing I could think of to change my style.  I decided to make the cut and leave last year behind along with 10 inches of my hair.  Luckily, I was able to put that hair to good use.

After I hung up the phone with my hair salon, my heart began to beat a little faster.  The day had been set, and there was no turning back.  Maybe it’s a bit overdramatic, but I have always been one of those girls who considers her hair a fifth limb.  I have had long hair for years now, but one day I made the promise to myself that once it got long enough, I would donate it to Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit foundation that creates custom-fit hair pieces for financially disadvantaged children under the age of 21 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.  Hair loss can be caused by a number of different things, such as Alopecia or Chemotherapy, and is often permanent.  I realized that the ability to have my hair any way I wanted was a luxury that many girls struggling with medical problems just didn’t have, and I desperately wanted to help.  Locks of Love’s mission is to “return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss.”  This statement meant a lot to me, as it made me realize how much my hair affected my idea of myself.  I couldn’t imagine how I would feel in that situation, which is why I felt so inclined to be a part of the solution.  However, as the big day inched closer and closer, I became more and more nervous.

Cutting my hair was an experience I will never forget.  The moment my stylist sheared through the locks, I felt instantly different.  I felt lighter, sexier, spunkier!  I had worried that I wouldn’t be as attractive without my long hair, but then I realized that I was looking good, and feeling good in a whole new way.  Making a big change is something a girl just has to do every once and a while, and it’s comforting to know that the change can be a bit of hope and comfort for someone else.

As I dropped the envelope with my donation in the mail box, I felt good about myself and my decision.  Although it may seem small in the grand scheme of things for me, cutting my hair was a big step that required courage.  I had stepped outside of my comfort zone and made a change to myself that has brought me nothing but happiness.  And that’s what New Year’s resolutions are all about.

Interested in donating? It’s simple and inspiring.  Just follow the link! http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html

Bethany Acevedo is a senior at California State University Long Beach where she is majoring in English Literature and is a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. She one day hopes to work as a book editor, literary critic, or write for a magazine. Bethany is an advocate for the empowerment of women, and loves to tackle feminist issues through her writing. She is a SoCal girl, born and raised, who is obsessed with coffee, the show Mad Men, John Steinbeck and all things bows! Her passion for reading and writing never cease to inspire each other, as well as her life. She believes in the power of language to change the world, and the potential for literature and education to empower anyone.
Bethany has 7 post(s) on Love Twenty