Find A Youth Mentor

Hi everyone! I’m Laura and I’m from Park Ridge, IL which is right outside of Chicago. I currently go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and am pre-PA majoring in Biology and Global Health. I discovered I had Alopecia when I was 8 years old while I was getting ready for school one morning. A few months later, after trying several different treatments, I was diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis and have had no hair growth ever since. Following the year of my diagnosis I went to my first NAAF conference and went for four more years after that. My journey with Alopecia has definitely not been easy as looking so different from my friends and classmates was extremely hard for me. It really took me a long time to accept myself with Alopecia and accept that this might not ever get better. Keeping busy and doing things that I loved all while leaning on my amazing friends and family was what kept me going. I played volleyball all throughout middle school and high school and was editor of my high school newspaper. Now, in college I’m meeting new people all the time and have found it so much easier to be open about my Alopecia and my journey with it as this wasn’t the case while I was growing up. I love hanging out with my friends, going to football games (Go Badgers), and taking advantage of every opportunity I find. Having Alopecia has completely changed my perspective on life and I would love to share my experiences and give any advice I have to my mentee(s)!

Hello, I’m Bella! I’m 19 years old and I’m from Southern California. I attend college in Northern California, specifically as a second-year student at the University of California, Davis. Back home in sunny SoCal, I live with my parents, my twin brother and my poodle-pup named Annabelle. Whenever I can, I love to hike, practice yoga, go to the beach, and attend art galleries and museums. One of my main goals in life is to travel for as long as I’m able to, not necessarily attempt to visit every country, but to connect culturally and make meaningful visits to new places in a deliberate manner. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata during the summer of 2017 after being diagnosed with other health problems, which seemed to cause my AA. Even though my condition isn’t severe nor is it genetic, the emotional trauma of going through this physical disease was tremendously tough. Being a mentor, I want to be able to connect with other battlers of alopecia areata and create potential discussion for a fellow victim in need of a safe space and someone to confide in. I’m very excited to start this program under NAFF and I hope to find another mentee I can learn from and experience a new friendship with. There’s so much to appreciate and to give back in our world, and having hair or not isn’t a criteria of true beauty. What’s beautiful is the struggle in hardships and overcoming obstacles that you wouldn’t think was possible. Having this condition is difficult, rare, and physically arduous, but acceptance and radiating love back out into our environment and to others is the ultimate cure.

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! By my senior year of high school, I realized that Alopecia was controlling me, and that I was not controlling it. I had attempted several different forms of treatment (several prescribed pills, topical steroids, injections, Chinese Medicine, etc.) but none were working very well. Ultimately, I slowly began to accept the way I looked, which dramatically increased my happiness and well-being. After high school, I attended, and graduated, from the University of Southern California (Fight On). I enjoyed my time in college, and never realized until recently that many of my friends didn’t even know what I looked like with hair! After graduation, I moved to San Francisco where I now work at Visa as part of a two-year leadership/cross-discipline business rotational program. Things I do for fun... playing/watching sports (played tennis and lacrosse most of my life), reading about technology, trying new/foreign foods, traveling whenever I can, big Seattle Seahawks fan, mentoring/helping those who may be less fortunate than me, watching all types of movies, hikes/exercise/walking. I hope, and look forward to developing a relationship with a mentee(s)!

Hi my name is Rachael! I’m originally from Boston but am currently in North Carolina for my masters in public health at UNC. I was first diagnosed with alopecia when I was in ninth grade. During that time, I lost about a third of my hair. Since then, I’ve experienced seasons of regrowth and loss as I went from high school to college and now grad school. As a current public health student, I hope to be an advocate to bring more awareness to alopecia in our current healthcare system. It’s been quite the rollercoaster of a journey, but I’m excited to share my experiences with others in this community and learn from them too! In my free time, I enjoy baking, crafting, learning new languages and playing the guitar!

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.

Hi! My name is Laura and I am 17 years old. I live right outside of Philadelphia, PA and I am a junior in high school. I really enjoy playing volleyball, going to the beach, and traveling! During the summers, I volunteer at a hospital as I am planning on studying biology in college. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was five years old, but it quickly progressed to universalis after all my hair fell out during the summer before first grade. My experience with alopecia was difficult at first, but being a part of the NAAF community has helped me embrace my alopecia! One thing I really look forward to every year is going to the NAAF conference. It is a lot fun and I have made so many friends who I keep in touch with throughout the year. I really look forward to getting to know you and helping you in any way that I can!

“Hi everyone! My name is Julissa. I am 23 years old and I am from Newark, New Jersey. I was diagnosed with alopecia universalis at 1 years old. I’ve experienced hair loss throughout my childhood. As a child, I depended on wigs to be my safe haven. After years of inner conflict, I was finally able to embrace who I am and not hesitate to share my beautiful story with the world. I aim to encourage others to feel free in their own skin. I remember as a child how difficult my journey and sometimes it still is. However, with my experiences I know I can have the opportunity to impact and be a part of someone else’s journey. Hair does not determine your worth or who you are as a person, only you determine that.”

Hey everyone! My name is Rachel and I'm a social worker & educator from Milwaukee, WI currently living in Chicago, IL. I love traveling, dancing, singing, baking, and connecting with others. My Alopecia journey began at 8 years old when I lost all the hair on my head, my eyebrows, & eyelashes. My hair grew back when I was 14 and for a few years I only had the occasional small bald patches. My alopecia journey came full circle this past year when all of my hair started falling out again. This time around, I decided to throw a party with friends and family & I buzzed all my hair off. I understand that Alopecia can come with so many different mixed feelings, approaches, and questions - no matter where you are in your Alopecia journey as a young person or as a caregiver, I'm here to help! I have experience with wigs (care, cut, color, options for every day use & options to wear for fun), different forms of treatment (cream, injections, thermal caps, etc.) navigating the emotions behind living with Alopecia, and practicing self care + stress management. I understand it might take awhile to feel comfortable sharing about your experience with Alopecia, so I'm comfortable moving at your pace. Reach out anytime :)

Hi, I’m John! I am a recent college graduate from Clifton Park, NY who now lives in Boston, MA working in employee benefits consulting for an insurance company. My interests include exercising, serving those in need, having deep conversations, listening to music, sports, and chilling with friends. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 7 years old and this shortly developed into alopecia universalis. At the time, I had difficulty accepting this disease, especially because my family moved shortly after I lost my hair, so I had to leave my childhood friends and start fresh in a new location. My parents always did their best to make me feel comfortable, but I never wanted to talk about it and I never met anyone who had alopecia. This led me to develop anxiety and depression in my late teenage years and early adulthood. Through my hardships, I found people who really care about me and who love me unconditionally in school, soccer, and volunteering. Now, I feel more at peace with myself than ever and am now ready to share my story. I am more than excited to be a part of this great program and let young kids with alopecia know that they are not alone!

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!