A few months ago, in one of my reminiscent quiet thoughts and past memories, I thought about high school. I thought about what life was like during the month of March back when I was a junior at Lane Tech. How I made it through such a long month to finally get to spring break. I thought about the International days/ International nights preparation festivities. I thought about the buzz of gym 2 when clubs would perform for us and then I vaguely remembered a brave someone. I never spoke to her and I didn’t know her name. But I remembered her because of her boldness. Her big eyes and her bald head.

Earlier that week, she had participated in an event called St. Baldrick’s. An event that Lane Tech students participated in where they would raise money for pediatric cancer and then shave their head to show their final commitment and sacrifice for a greater cause. I remember thinking that it was a beautiful story, a brave way to make a statement and be vulnerable in it altogether. Even though the experience itself is less than a fraction of those children and teens with cancer, I thought that maybe one day I would do it. And so this past March, I decided I would participate in a St. Baldrick’s event. I’ve been through my fair share of both short and long hair, but never this.

I am telling you that I’m going to undergo something new. Something brand new. I am raising money for pediatric cancer and would like you join me on this journey of being vulnerable and bare but also new and promising. It’s about an experience that only warriors go through and I am just blessed enough to be able to help.