Find A Youth Mentor

Hi! My name is Ashley Abraham. I am a high school senior in the D.C. Metropolitan area and I currently live in southern Maryland. I have had alopecia since I was two years old, so basically I have had it for as long as I can remember. Initially, I had alopecia universalis, but around the age of 13, I started doing PRP (platelet-rich-plasma) injections which allowed me to grow a lot of my hair back so currently I have alopecia areata. Growing up in elementary school and middle school with alopecia has made me struggle with my identity and acceptance of alopecia, I often felt alone since I didn’t know anyone else who could relate to me. Over the years I have learned to embrace my alopecia and appreciate myself for who I am. I would love to help anyone else who may be going through the same thing, or even help parents who may want to talk to someone who understands what it’s like. As a small kid, I have tried many different ways to cope with my alopecia such as wearing hats and wigs. I have had to deal with both internal and external struggles caused by my alopecia. It definitely took some time to get to the point where I am today, and I want to help in that process of figuring out what makes you feel the most confident and becoming the best version of yourself. A few fun facts about me are that I play tennis, I love to draw, I love to go shopping, I also like to go hiking/bike riding, and I love animals. I also love meeting new people and I look forward to hearing from you!

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!

Hi, my name is Nolan Holbrook. I am 20 years old and a junior at the University of Miami, majoring in Microbiology and Immunology. I first found out that I had Alopecia Areata when I was in the fifth grade. My hair started falling out along with the onset of obsessive compulsive disorder. As my OCD continually got worse throughout my middle school years, so did my alopecia. At first I was able to hide the hair loss pretty well with hats, or by keeping my hair longer, because I felt different and didn’t want anyone to know. But once the bald spots got bigger it was impossible for people to not start noticing. Whenever I was questioned about the bald spots I would feel more and more like an outcast, and soon alopecia felt like it was consuming my life. I tried many different treatment methods including topical medicine, aroma therapy, and steroid injections. For a couple years, everything I tried didn’t show any results. I realized that alopecia was something that I was going to have to deal with, that it was a part of my life and stopped caring what other people thought of my hair. I began to gain control over my OCD and decrease my anxiety/stress levels. After decreasing my stress and continuing with steroid injections, I began seeing hair growth and promising results in the eight grade. Slowly I started to gain back most of my hair, and now have not had to deal with any hair loss for a few years. When I am not studying or working at a hospital in Boston in the summer (where I am originally from), I enjoy: playing lacrosse and soccer, watching sports, watching movies, going to the beach, listening to music, volunteering, cooking and trying new food, traveling, and running. I am looking forward to connecting with my first mentee!

Hi my name is Morgan! I am from St. Louis, MO and I have struggled with alopecia since the age of 4. As a child, my hair began to fall out and I remember asking Santa around Christmas time very year that it would finally grow back. My Christmas wish. **laughs to self. I used some topical products for a few years but never saw any improvement. However, at that time the hair loss was noticeable but gradual which was probably the best because it would’ve freaked me out seeing it fall out drastically! I’d say I was able to live a pretty normal life. I learned at an early age hair styles to hide it and literally mastered it to the point where people never knew. For the most part, I still had a thick head of hair and that was a plus because it allowed for me to keep it a secret for years. Years! My best friends never even knew until a few years ago after asking why I was in such distress about my hair. The process of my hair loss has sped up recently and it scares me like crazy but I have decided to no longer be ashamed of it or quiet about it. It is my hope that I can educate others about it and help them realize that women are just as beautiful with or without hair!

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! 

Hi, my name is Michael Miller. I'm a 24 year old, Dallas, Texas resident (born and raised) working in the commercial real estate industry. I attended Baylor University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a Business Marketing concentration and graduated in May of 2016. My hobbies include being active in my local church, traveling, water-skiing, fishing, and golfing. I've had alopecia for as long as I can remember but lost all my hair one year ago, when I turned 23. Originally seeing alopecia as something negative, I've been able to use it as a positive and see how it is truly a blessing in disguise. Even though I am new to the NAAF family, I want to help and encourage people who are going through what I've been through. I look forward to connecting!

My name is Jessica Nelson but my friends call me Jessi! I am 22 years old and live in Logan, Utah! I was diagnosed with alopecia when I was 5 years old! I have always hated wearing wigs, and prefer to keep my head uncovered! I graduated from Payson high school in 2019, and I am now a preschool teacher! I was married to my amazing husband in 2020, and we have been living in Logan ever since! I grew up at the southern edge of Utah County, with an amazing family. I love to do anything craft related, especially painting and sewing! I enjoy going to movies, reading books, and spending time with my friends and family! I also love to be outside, hiking, fishing, and swimming are some of my favorite outside activities! When I was younger I didn’t really grasp the fact that I was different than the other kids in my class. It wasn’t until I started getting bullied in second grade that I realized there was something different about me. That was the first time I struggled with my alopecia. It did not help that I didn't know anyone else with alopecia, and that's a huge part of why I wanted to become a mentor. I did not really realize until fifth or sixth grade that I didn't need to let my hair, or lack of it, define me. I am excited to get to know more people who have been through things like me, and I hope to be able to offer support to someone who needs it.

Hi! My name is Lindsey, I am 17 and a senior in high school. I am from Buffalo Grove, a suburb near Chicago. I have had Alopecia since I was 13, and by the time I was 16 I had lost all the hair on my head. This year, my once bushy eyebrows fell out as well. I was very sad and angry when I first lost my hair, but once I started being open with my friends and peers about my hair loss I felt confident and very supported. Most days I wear a wig, but I have gone to school without my wig before and it was very liberating. I am part of a clinical trial right now but have gone through other various treatments as well. I want to be there for other people with Alopecia who might be struggling, or who might feel alone. More than anything I hope to be a great friend to someone and be there to listen, to give advice, and have fun! I am very involved in school extracurriculars, where I am the vice president of my class and a freshman mentor, and I have played sports for most of my life. In my free time I love to spend time outdoors, hang out with friends, try new hobbies, and ponder life, as well as bake, eat lots of ice cream, and read!

Hi, my name is Hannah Bobo and I am from Indiana, although I was born in North Carolina (once a Tar Heel, always a Tar Heel). I enjoy playing the piano, reading and have recently gotten into photography-but I spend most of my time playing basketball. I have become really interested in pharmacy, and plan to pursue pharmacy school after I graduate high school. I was diagnosed with alopecia universalis at the age of 2. It grew back quickly, and up until the summer before I went into sixth grade I had alopecia areata. After that, I completely lost all of my hair, and have been bald since then (I am a junior in high school!). For a while, I tried topical steroids and wore bandanas because I wasn’t comfortable with being bald. After seeing other kids with alopecia and how they were able to be themselves without treatment and head coverings, I decided to stop seeking treatment and wearing bandanas. This journey has been a rollercoaster, from the self-confidence issues, the people I’ve met, countless minutes spent standing in the mirror upset that I didn’t have hair, to being able to help others with the same things I have struggled with, and the things I have been able to accomplish because of a newfound confidence in my alopecia. In the end, I wouldn’t change a thing! I’ve met some amazing people who have helped me through the journey, and I would love to pay it forward by helping others in any way that I can!

Hi! My name is Sooji and I was born and raised in Flushing, New York. I have a bachelors’ degree in Art History and currently working on an art portfolio for grad school in Art Education. In my spare time, I love to document my memories through scrapbooking. When it comes to crafting, I am always eager to learn new techniques and skills. I always found art to help me through my emotional distress when I was diagnosed with alopecia. My journey began when I was 10 years old. I had watched a tiny patch on my head get bigger, my hair line getting wider until eventually, I could not hide it anymore. Soon, my eyebrows and eyelashes were gone. I always wore a bandana and a hat to school. Within 1 year while taking steroid injections, I was grateful that my hair grew back. For 8 years, I would get bald patches that were easy to cover up. When I was 18, I was hospitalized and my body reacted to a medication that triggered all of my hair to fall out. The second time around, I did not take any medication but surprisingly, my hair grew back in three years. During those three years, it was difficult to accept my image. I decided to purchase a wig and little by little, I stopped using my wig as a safety blanket. Eventually, I only wore a bandana. In less than a year, I was able to walk out of my house with nothing on my head. That day, I felt so unbelievably empowered by my choice. Again, my hair grew back, but even today, I am facing some bald patches. Having alopecia made me a strong and confident individual. I would love to talk, listen or just have fun! 