Youth Mentor Program
Name | About me | Gender / Age / Location | Will meet with | Type of Alopecia | Contact |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrea Nave![]() |
Born and raised in Syracuse, NY, I am the middle child of 5 kids (4 girls and 1 boy). I started losing my hair when I was around 8 years old. No one in my family had experienced hair loss like this before, so I remember going to doctors to figure out what was going on. We tried lots of different treatments, but nothing seemed to be helping. I remember the embarrassment, shame, sadness, and anxiety I felt whenever going out in public or having people in my own home. At times, I felt like no one could ever love me looking the way I did. I experienced bullying at school and was often asked if I had cancer. I was afraid to wear a hat to school, as I did not want to draw attention to myself. I was afraid to go into a pool and get my hair wet, as it made my bald spots show even more. Overall, Alopecia made me afraid of many things. |
Female (37) Hamden, Connecticut |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Christine Wigandt![]() |
Hey! My name is Christine, I'm 25 and I was born, raised and currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts. I was diagnosed with Alopecia at the age of 20 while I was in my Junior year of college. During that time my mother was very ill and had gone into hospice and shortly after died. For this reason my dermatologist attributes my Alopecia Universalis diagnosis to stress. No one in my family has had alopecia nor had I shown any signs of Alopecia during my childhood. My diagnosis and new life as someone with Alopecia has been nothing short of a journey. Initially I was very closed off however I have truly come to embrace and love that I don't have hair! I currently work as an Emergency Medical Technician for the City of Boston and I own a small wood-working craft type business on the side. Through both of my jobs I am constantly interacting with the public which has in turn made me more comfortable with who I am. I'm so excited to become a youth mentor and help whoever I can in this alopecia journey. |
Female (29) Roslindale, Massachusetts |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis Alopecia Universalis |
|
Michael Schaffner![]() |
Hi! My name is Michael, and I am from Southern New Jersey. I now live in New York City where I work as a Costume Designer at The Juilliard School. I was diagnosed with Alopecia when I was two but first started losing hair when I was nine years old. I wore wigs during this time – however, I stopped wearing wigs when my hair came back. I grew back my eyebrows, eyelashes, and a thick head of hair. Then when I was 15 all my hair fell out again. I am now 22 and have a thin amount of hair on my head and receive eyebrow injections several times a year. Despite that, I have been heavily involved in the theatre community since I was 10 years old, performing and eventually designing for the stage. Growing up performing in front of others young and bald can be difficult and scary. I hope to share my experience, whilst also listening, learning, and growing with my mentee(s). In my free time I love drawing, going to museums, and watching movies. I am greatly looking forward to developing meaningful relationships! |
Male (22) Brooklyn, New York |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Elisabeth Fox![]() |
Hi! My name is Elisabeth, and I'm a college freshman. I'm currently at College of Marin but will be attending the University of San Francisco in the fall of 2023. I've grown up in Marin County all my life and have fallen in love with San Francisco and all it has to offer. That said, I'm the BIGGEST Giants and Golden State Warriors fan. I play volleyball, love music of all kinds, and am the biggest Studio Ghibli & Disney/Pixar enthusiast. I started to lose my hair when I was 13 (May 2017). I began to see doctors in my area, and about a month later, I was diagnosed with alopecia areata. It started out as small patches, and by the end of the month, my hair was all gone. It was really hard, especially as a middle schooler, having to go around with hats or wraps covering my head and being unable to explain what was happening to my peers. Being scared of wigs did not help my situation at all. My hair slowly grew back, and to this day, I've had random, patchy flare-ups every month or so from 8th grade to my senior year in high school. It started to fall out again in April of my senior year, which took a massive toll on my mental health, more so than it did in middle school and all of my hair fell out again. Luckily, I had (and continue to have) such a fantastic support group in my family and friends. I want to give those in this mentor program the comfort and reassurance I needed when I first discovered I had alopecia. It's hard, and at first, you'll feel alone in this new world, but I want to be able to give the kids, and their parents, the support that I really needed at the beginning of all the craziness and to know that you're never alone! |
Female (18) San Rafael, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Hilary Manlove![]() |
Hi everyone! I’m Hilary and I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Totalis at age 20. I've tried a bevy of treatments including drastic diet changes, multiple traditional medicines, and even Chinese techniques- none of which had an impact. Following my diagnosis, I found a great deal of comfort in the alopecia community, who have ultimately become my best resource for reassurance and self-acceptance. Connections through the group helped guide me as I made the decision to get my eyebrows micro-bladed and to shave off my remaining hair. After discovering the alopecia community, I have chosen not to wear wigs daily but still own a few to occasionally wear for fun. As time passed, the moments of self doubt became more and more fleeting, and now I feel that I have more confidence than I did with hair. Working in public-facing jobs has made me comfortable and confident in my ability to field questions from curious people of all ages. I've experienced my fair share of hard times and awkward moments, but have built a strong network of people that remind me who I am and how much stronger we are together. I love being outside with my dog and taking an active role in environmental conservation. I also enjoy exploring art and creativity through henna, painting, and reading poetry. |
Female (30) Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Allison Szustowicz![]() |
Hi, I’m Allie! I’m currently in my junior year of high school. I was born and raised in south Jersey, so I’m a diehard Philly sports fan. I love exploring the outdoors and going on trips with my family and friends. My journey with alopecia started my freshman year when i noticed a few, small, bald spots around my head. Developing alopecia during such a big transitional period in my life definitely took a stab at my mental health. Luckily, I was (and still am) blessed to be surrounded by such amazing and supportive people who have made this journey so much easier. My goal is to be that support system to someone else who needs it now as much as I did then. |
Female (17) turnersville, New Jersey |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Maya Holton![]() |
Hi, I’m Maya! I am from Los Gatos, California but am currently a student at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo pursuing my studies in Graphic Communications. My alopecia journey began at the age of 17. I rapidly lost 85% of my hair and had to shift my focus from social events and school work, to how I was going to cover my balding head. It was traumatic to face events like prom and graduation with the insecurity of not having hair. I wore hats or headbands everyday to cover my bald patches until they got too large to be concealed. I then moved to a hair piece. My hair piece became a security blanket for me as I entered college. I hated every stage I had to go through, but over time I always found a way to accept what was happening to me. Throughout my hair loss, I went to countless doctors and eventually found a clinical trial that prescribed me the drug Xeljanz. It helped stop my hair from falling out and promoted regrowth. I decided to stop the medicine and I noticed my hair beginning to grow back. I recently stopped wearing my hair piece and cut my hair short. I am proud to rock my short hair that is 100% my own! This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions and learning, but my alopecia journey has taught me how to be strong and confident. I now try to focus less on the disease and more on doing what I love: hanging out with family and friends, hiking, going to the beach and enjoying my freshman year. I look forward to helping others who are also on this emotional roller coaster! |
Female (22) Los Gatos, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Christine Nolde![]() |
Hello! My name is Christine and I am originally from Stillwater, Minnesota and currently I am living out in Salt Lake City, UT. I attended the University of Minnesota where I studied Economics with an emphasis on Mathematics. Fresh out of college I began working for General Mills (go Cheerios!) and since then I have been relocated from MN to Utah where I absolutely love what I do. On a more somber note, I was diagnosed with alopecia areata the summer before I headed off to college (18 years old). At the time I was absolutely devastated, but as I got more comfortable with my diagnosis it became very clear to me that those who love you do not care about what you look like and that inner beauty is what truly matters. This is something that still holds true for me and has impacted my life in numerous ways. Although this disease is burdensome there always is a silver lining and hope! When I was first diagnosed, I chose to keep my alopecia a secret by covering up spots in sneaky and creative ways as well as utilizing hair extensions. I didn’t have anyone to talk to or to discuss my feelings with, looking back that was my biggest mistake. Wanting to help others with this disease and give them the outlet I so wish I had when I received the news is why I chose to reach out to NAAF and become involved in this program. I am who I am today because of this disease and it seems crazy to say but I would do it all again, it has given me strength and confidence and has instilled in me a spirit of endurance and acceptance that has led me to become the successful business woman I am today! |
Female (29) Ammon, Idaho |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Caroline Ladlow![]() |
Hi, I’m Caroline! I am currently in graduate school in Amherst, Massachusetts. I study geology and am getting my masters studying tsunami risk in Japan. Before this, I grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and went to undergraduate at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. In terms of hobbies, I love to hike, rock climb, run, watch movies, cook new recipes, and learn new things. I was diagnosed with alopecia universalis about 4 years ago while at Lafayette, when I turned 20. It all happened pretty quickly for me: my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes all went within a few months. I do own a wig, but don’t wear it very frequently. Even though my experience with alopecia was very recent, I know that without it I would be a very different person today. I have really become able to embrace and love who I am, no matter what that entails. Because of how alopecia has changed me, I feel inspired to talk to others about their experiences and especially work with children and younger people that are going through this. Alopecia is challenging for everyone, but with some help you can come out stronger and more confident on the other side. |
Female (28) Fruita, Colorado |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Lindsey Graham![]() |
My name is Lindsey Graham, and I am originally from the Chicago suburbs of Illinois, but I currently attend the University of Iowa, and live in Iowa. I am double majoring in elementary education and art. I lost my hair just a year ago, when I was 20. I randomly started to experience hair loss, and after seeing a couple of doctors I was diagnosed with Alopecia. Within 2 weeks, I had lost all the hair on my head. This was shocking for me losing it all so quickly, and living 20 years prior without experiencing anything like this. I started by wearing wigs, but eventually I realized this was just an unnecessary strain on my life and I started to wear hats. My hair is now growing back, but I am unsure how long this will last. Either way, I have found peace with how things keep changing, and I have continued to live my life as normally as anyone else. Some things that I like to do are paint/ draw, spend time with my new puppy, hangout with my friends, go hiking, and watch movies. I also take Italian at the University and I love it, and am even going to Italy soon. Mentoring interests me because I am very extroverted and love to meet new people, especially people who are dealing with similar things as me! |
Female (24) Iowa city, Iowa |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Leah Krut![]() |
Hi! My name is Leah Krut and I am 17 years old. I live in Boca Raton, Florida, and I am a junior in high school. I would consider myself a fun and social person. I enjoy participating in activities such as dance and art. I also love to hang out with my family and friends and try new things. I developed alopecia areata when I was 11 years old, which caused some patches of my hair to fall out. I never knew when it would flare up, and it caused me anxiety. I also did not know anyone else struggling with this, making me feel insecure. This was a difficult experience for me, but I was fortunate enough to have my hair grow back out eventually. However, it did take a toll on my mental health, and I was grateful to have a supportive group of friends and family around me. With this, I’d love to be able to be a friend to someone else with alopecia. I understand all of the confusion and emotions that come along with alopecia and would love to be able to make someone's life even just a little bit easier on this journey. Despite this challenging experience, I have learned to embrace my differences and have become more confident in who I am. I am excited to see what the future holds and am excited to be able to help others in this journey. |
Female (17) Boca Raton, Florida |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Leon Iskhakbayev![]() |
"Hi there! My name is Leon, and I was born in the Big Apple aka NYC. I lived there until I was 11 and then moved to Washington State where I have been ever since. I am 23 and I work as a Real Estate Valuation Analyst for a global commercial real estate firm. I love playing basketball and watching all kinds of sports from football to soccer. I also enjoy going to the gym, playing video games occasionally, and spending time outdoors if the weather isn’t too gloomy here in Seattle. Creatively, I challenge myself by making different kinds of recipes from different cuisines I find on Pinterest or through family. My journey with Alopecia started when I was about 8 years old. I had started out with patches and eventually was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. I was so insecure for the longest time and always felt like I was different from everyone else, which I was, but in a bad way. It wasn’t until I was a sophomore in high school that I finally decided to own how I look and respect that this is who I am. I would be so excited to be a mentor to someone also going through this because I can only imagine how different my life would have been as a kid if I had someone to relate to. I am open to answering all questions about my experience and of course building a great friendship!" |
Male (23) Seattle, Washington |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Kevin Bernstein![]() |
My name is Kevin Bernstein, and I’m originally from Seattle, WA (I now live in San Francisco). I was diagnosed with Alopecia when I was 8 years-old shortly after having an Emergency Hernia surgery. Shortly thereafter, from fourth to twelfth grade, I struggled to accept the fact that I looked different then my peers, and went forward with wearing a hat every single day when I stepped in public. I even quit basketball in sixth grade because I was told that I couldn’t wear a hat anymore when I played! |
Male (26) Mercer Island, Washington |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Laura Arand![]() |
Originally from Chicagoland, I attended DePaul University (Go Demons!) where I continued to play soccer, as I have my entire life. In my spare time I like to sew, craft, DIY, play sports, watch movies/TV shows, and bake goodies. When I’m not crafting while watching TV and snacking on tasty goods, I travel the world and have adventures with friends and family. As for my bald body, I was first diagnosed with alopecia at 12 years old. It manifested as random bald spots on my head but I was always able to cover them up with the rest of my hair. For me, alopecia started out as a big secret. I was really depressed and didn’t want to go anywhere, even school. My hair eventually grew back. Years later, after I moved to New Orleans, I found the NOLA Alopecia Support Group while searching online. At this point, I had full hair growth on my head and body, but I didn’t know anyone else with alopecia, so I joined the group on a whim. Four months later, my hair was falling out again. Unlike previously, this time my hair fell out quickly and within 2 weeks nearly all of the hair on my body was gone. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror. Thankfully, I had my support group to fall back on. Sometimes I wear hats (in the sun!), sometimes I wear scarves, and sometimes I “go bald.” I look forward to supporting another, as I once was. |
Female (32) New Orleans, Louisiana |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Bradley Parsons![]() |
Hi everyone! My name is Bradley Parsons and I am Masters of Public Health student in Houston, Texas. I spent most of my childhood around Chicago before moving to Baltimore for college at Johns Hopkins University, where I studied Public Health and Psychology and played collegiate baseball. I am currently applying to medical school and hope to be able to treat and research Alopecia in my future career as a physician. I love watching sports, exercising, writing music, and occasionally playing video games with friends! Until my sophomore year in college, I had patchy Alopecia Areata around my body. During the summer following my sophomore year, my condition progressed to Alopecia Universalis as all the hair on my body gradually fell out. Luckily, I had amazing support groups of friends, family and colleagues that made me feel comfortable with my condition early on. I look forward to providing that same support to any future mentees in the Youth Mentor program to hopefully ease the struggles that come with Alopecia while also building lasting friendships! |
Male (25) Galveston, Texas |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Jessa Ponce![]() |
Hey there! My name is Jessa Ponce and I’m from San Diego, California. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata when I was a sophomore in highschool. I lost all of my hair at 15 years old. From having a full head of hair to none, initially I felt trapped and lost, but I realized I wasn’t alone! Leading up to college my hair grew back, but ultimately my hair loss has taught me how to have compassion for myself and others. More about me, I have a lot of hobbies! I enjoy public speaking as I gave a TEDTALK in February 2022 titled “Finding Security Through Our Insecurities.” I love puzzles, in fact I can solve a Rubik’s cube in 15 seconds and have been solving them since I was ten years old. I love photography and video editing, specifically portraits and my cooking videos. I can also juggle. I look forward to meeting you and to create new experiences together! |
Female (24) Chula Vista, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Kate Zipperer![]() |
Hi all, my name is Kate Zipperer, and I’m a medical student living in Galveston, Texas. I’m originally from the Austin area, and studied biology at UT. I love to exercise, go to the beach, and travel. Snow-skiing is my favorite! I’m applying to dermatology residency next year, and I look forward to spending my life treating alopecia and connecting with my patients over this common bond. My alopecia story began when I was in the first grade, and was diagnosed with alopecia areata around the same time as my mother. As a child I was ashamed of this part of my life and kept it a secret. Once I started discussing it with others, it lost its power over me and I felt more free to be myself. I hope that I can be a friend to be there for others who are struggling with this condition. I currently mentor and tutor my fellow medical students as well as undergraduate students who are pre-med, and I look forward to connecting with my future mentees over this disease which has been so formative for me and many others. |
Female (24) Galveston, Texas |
Kids Parents |
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Calvin Harjono![]() |
Hi my name is Calvin! I am a UC Davis graduate and in my spare time I like to create new acquaintances and participate in sports such as tennis and basketball. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata during my Junior year of high school. Through a series of flares, I learned to better overcome negative intrapersonal thoughts and be comfortable living with alopecia. Alopecia has allowed me to become truly understanding of the differences in people’s perception and approach others with integrity. As a mentor, I want to empower you in developing a healthy mindset and guide others to feel comfortable with one’s self. I look forward to learning about your experiences and supporting in the best way I can! |
Male (27) San Francisco, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Angela Acuna![]() |
Hi, my name is Angela Acuna. I'm 28 years old living in Philadelphia (born and raised!) and working for IKEA in Supply Chain Management. I attended Saint Joseph's University and majored in International Business and was a rower there as well. I have been dealing with alopecia since I was 19 years old. I wear a wig most of the time, not because I think I have to - but because I love my wig! People always think all my hair grew back when I tell them I have alopecia. But I have a very large baseball cap collection that I like to wear when I don't feel like wearing a wig. In my free time I really enjoy travelling - I've been to 15 countries in Europe, China, and Chile, and hopefully many more to come! I also enjoy taking advantage of everything Philly has to offer - restaurants, history, museums, parks, and of course all the free exercise classes! It's taken me a long time to learn how to be comfortable with myself with alopecia, but also to learn all the different tools, techniques, and products that are available to help make living with alopecia easier. I would really like to share that with the younger generation so they have an easier time then I did! |
Female (33) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
|
Mikayla Mango![]() |
Hello! My name is Mikayla Mango. I am 18 years old, I was diagnosed with alopecia when I was 13 and a 7th grader in middle school. I lost all of my hair and wore a wig for 3 years, I now get spots at random around my scalp. I kept my alopecia very private up until March of 2022. I want to show everyone that their voice matters, I want to help be the light at the end of the tunnel for those who feel in the dark. I have been a part of NAAF for 3 years now and continue my advocacy work but am very eager to help others along their amazing journeys! |
Female (18) Camillus, New York |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Sasha Lildharrie![]() |
Hello, my name is Sasha and I am a born and raised New Yorker. I work in NYC as a full-time accountant and a part-time English tutor. Developing alopecia in my young adult life really affected my sense of self and identity. At that time, I did not know how to cope with the emotional stress and had little knowledge or access to the available resources. In time, I found the support of great people who helped me learn more about this disease and encouraged me to stay positive. With their help, I learned everything I could know about alopecia and the tools available to overcome it. I’m proud of the strides I’ve made and the skills I’ve acquired that help me to feel like myself again. I think every journey is a little bit different but we can definitely learn from each other. I would like my role to be someone who can understand, support, and empathize with you and your family. Together we can carry ourselves through this journey. |
Female (30) Baltimore, New York |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |
|
Ezra Key-Cohen![]() |
Hey, I'm Ezra. I'm a high school senior in Houston, Texas. I enjoy playing musical instruments (guitar, saxophone, and piano), soccer, watching football (Fly Eagles Fly), and playing video games. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis at 11 years old, and lost all the hair on my head, eyebrows, and arms/legs in the weeks after my diagnosis. As a mentor, I hope to spend quality time with mentees and impart any tips or advice I've learned throughout my Alopecia journey while having some fun! |
Male (17) Bellaire, Texas |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Areata - Patchy |
|
Kim Tan![]() |
Hi! My name is Kim Tan, and I’m from Austin, Texas. I enjoy playing the piano, baking, and playing with my dog, Diesel. I was diagnosed with Alopecia in September 2020, but I began my hair loss journey in April 2020. Initially, I had overall thinning which was diagnosed as Telogen Effluvium. After a few months, I began to notice multiple spots around my whole head. I progressed from Alopecia Areata to Totalis, and then to Universalis, all within a few months. During this time, I went through many ups and downs. I was devastated that my long, thick hair was gone, but with the support of my family and friends, I grew to embrace it. In fact, it led me to my current career path. I had always wanted to be a doctor, but my experience with Alopecia and many dermatologists have inspired me to pursue a path of Dermatology with a specialization in hair. My experience with Alopecia also drove me to create an Instagram account (@Baldacious._) to raise awareness for Alopecia and inform the community about all things Alopecia. |
Female (18) Austin, Texas |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
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Orly Freund![]() |
Hi, I’m Orly! I grew up in Jersey, and recently moved to Philly to begin dental school. I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, bike riding, and whale watching. I love exploring new places with my husband and friends, and I also enjoy playing board games and doing puzzles. I have had Alopecia for the past twelve years; areata for four years and universalis for eight years. When I was diagnosed at age 11, I was devastated and sure that I would never feel normal again. So much of my time and thoughts were consumed by covering up the bald spots and worrying that people would notice. Then, when I was in 9th grade, 85% of my hair rapidly fell out over the course of a week! At that time, being bald felt so dehumanizing. I distinctly remember looking at my bald head in the mirror as I stretched out my arms. With my arms outstretched, I felt more like a starfish than a human, because my hairless head felt more to me like a fifth limb than a human head! On top of that, I didn’t know anyone else with alopecia universalis, so I felt very alone. Since I could no longer hide my alopecia, I was finally forced to confront it head-on, and I decided that I wasn’t willing to let it stop me from living my life. Over time, and with the support of my wonderful family and friends, I have achieved a level of comfort with my alopecia that it no longer negatively impacts my life. In fact, I am aware of many positive ways it has shaped me as a person. I wish that a mentorship program like this existed when I was first going through this process, because I believe that connecting with even one other person with alopecia would have made my journey a lot easier. That is why I am excited to provide that support for someone else going through the same thing I went through. I am looking forward to connecting with you! |
Female (25) Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Universalis |
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Jamil Wilkerson![]() |
Hi, my name is Jamil Wilkerson. I am originally from Indiana, but as a military brat also lived in Texas and Hawaii. I am currently a student at the University of Southern California studying sociology with hopes of attending law school after. Looking back, as a young kid I developed alopecia and never imagined still having it. Through it all, I have become a more sensitive and compassionate person. This is my first encounter with NAAF and I am thrilled for it! |
Male (27) Los Angeles, California |
Kids Parents |
Alopecia Totalis |