Staring at my reflection in the mirror. My hair seems to have a mind of its own.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror. My hair seems to have a mind of its own. I feel a wave of stress I couldn’t control. In a community where sleek, straight hair is a beauty standard, growing up with curly hair became a source of challenge and insecurity. From an early age, I felt like everyone I knew had straight hair, making me feel insecure and set apart from everyone else. This led me to avoid showing my curls as much as possible by straightening them or putting them up. The constant pressure started to consume me, leaving me with damaged hair and causing me to feel self-conscious at such a young age.
However, an unexpected event hit us. COVID-19 became my silver lining as it gave me a lot of time on my hands. Being disconnected from the world motivated me to do whatever I felt was best for me without feeling pulled back by anyone else. I learned how to take care of my natural curls, which was a challenging path. The results weren’t immediate, and it took some time for my hair to finally be completely healthy for the very first time in years. Through this journey, I learned how to appreciate the beauty of my hair in its natural state and that following beauty standards wasn’t the correct way to gain self-confidence.
My challenges with curly hair taught me how to confront societal pressures and approach academic challenges with a proactive mind. It also taught me resilience and patience, engraving the idea in my mind that things take time. With this mindset, I decided to elevate my artistic abilities. I decided to take my art classes to a new level by joining AP art. Much like my journey with my hair, this required patience and dedication. Joining this class wasn’t just about skill but rather a commitment to growth. I understood that improvement takes effort. I noticed a transformation in my creativity