I Was Forced to Cut My Hair Short in 9th Grade—And It Changed My Life in Ways I Never Expected

When you’re young, certain things feel like armor. For me, it was my long, flowing hair. It made me feel feminine, protected. It gave me something to hide behind when I didn’t know who I was yet.

Without it, I felt naked. Exposed. Like every insecurity I had was suddenly on display.

“It’s just hair,” people said. “It’ll grow back.”

But they didn’t get it. It wasn’t just hair. It was my identity.

The Loneliest Season of My Life

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